Bad Wolves are paying tribute to the late Dolly Parton with their own metal interpretation of her iconic song “Jolene,”with proceeds from the release set to benefit Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Parton died on August 25 at the age of 80, prompting tributes from across the music world. For Bad Wolves, however, the loss comes with a particularly poignant connection: the country music legend had been planning to guest on the band’s version of “Jolene.”

According to Bad Wolves founder John Boecklin, the idea developed from vocalist D.L. Laskiewicz’s admiration for Parton and his previous performances of the song. After the band recorded their heavier interpretation, Better Noise Music CEO Dan Waite sent the demo to Parton’s manager, Danny Nozell, to explore a possible collaboration.

“We got word that Danny had played the song for Dolly, she loved our version and was planning to go into the studio soon to record her vocals,” Boecklin explains.

Following Parton’s death, Bad Wolves decided to use the release to support one of the singer’s most enduring philanthropic projects. Founded in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library provides free, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five and has grown into an international literacy initiative distributing millions of books every month.

“We are proud to help Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library receive vital funding through ‘Jolene,’” Boecklin says. “We know that we can do our part to further Dolly’s vision of improving access to books and developing literacy.”

What was originally intended to be a collaboration has therefore become something very different: a musical tribute to Parton and a way to help carry forward the charitable legacy she spent decades building.