For listeners, this meant a familiar Bollywood melody
Dolly Parton passed away at the age of 80, leaving behind a musical legacy that reached far beyond the United States.
The country music icon died on August 25 after a brief battle with cancer, with her music influencing audiences and artists around the world.
Although Dolly Parton never visited India, she had previously spoken about her desire to travel to the country.
In a 2023 interview with Rolling Stone India, Parton said she had “always wanted to go” while discussing her rock album Rockstar.
That visit never happened, but her music had already found a place in Indian popular culture through Hindi cinema and music.
One of Parton’s most recognisable songs, ‘Jolene’, has connections to Hindi film music dating back decades.
The prelude of ‘Ek Raasta Hai Zindagi’ from the 1979 Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor film Kaala Patthar uses the refrain from ‘Jolene’.
The Hindi song was composed by Rajesh Roshan and performed by Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar.
The connection appeared again in 1991 with ‘Aaja Aaja Aa Bhi Ja’ from Pyaar Ka Saaya, which was composed by Nadeem-Shravan and sung by Kumar Sanu and Alisha Chinai.
For listeners, this meant a familiar Bollywood melody could have a connection to Parton’s country classic without her name necessarily being recognised.
Parton’s influence on Indian music also extends to ‘I Will Always Love You’.
Parton wrote and originally recorded the song in 1974. Whitney Houston later transformed it into a global hit after recording it for the 1992 film The Bodyguard.
British-Indian singer Amar later recorded a Hindi version titled ‘Tu Hai Mera Sanam’ in 1994.
Music listings identify the song as a Hindi version of ‘I Will Always Love You’, with Parton credited as the songwriter.
Parton’s influence was never limited to country music.
Across a career spanning more than five decades, she moved between country, pop, rock, film and television.
Her 1980 hit ‘9 to 5’ became another defining song of her career, while her 2023 album Rockstar saw her collaborate with artists including Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Miley Cyrus, Sting and Lizzo.
Dolly Parton had an extraordinary career and the continued presence of her songs in different cultures shows how far her music travelled.
Through Bollywood adaptations, Hindi versions and international covers, her songwriting became part of musical worlds far beyond her Tennessee roots, and her legacy will continue to be honoured for years to come.
