Megan Moroney Pays Tribute to Dolly Parton’s Iconic “Jolene” Style in PEOPLE’s World’s Most Beautiful Issue
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Moroney says she relates closely to her, adding that she sees many similarities between them.
Megan Moroney is honoring Dolly Parton once again, this time by recreating the country legend’s Jolene album cover for PEOPLE’s World’s Most Beautiful Issue.
The annual feature celebrates celebrities who are reshaping ideas of beauty, embracing individuality, and inspiring others in their fields. It includes a standout cover star along with a group of influential women across entertainment, music, and more. This year, Moroney is featured as part of the lineup for her impact on country music.
For the “Icons Only” section, Moroney fully leaned into the tribute, styling herself with voluminous blonde hair and soft glam makeup. She also sourced a striped outfit closely inspired by the one Parton wore on the original 1974 Jolene cover. Hairstylist Jessica Miller explained that multiple wigs were combined to achieve Parton’s famously dramatic hair.
Moroney worked closely with her glam team to bring the concept together. While she often uses extensions, she noted this look required much more to capture Parton’s signature volume.
“I usually use extensions, but there’s not enough extensions in the world to get Dolly Parton hair,” she said during her PEOPLE interview.
Styling the outfit also took careful effort. Stylist Lindsey Dupuis Bledsoe partnered with designer Mariana Romanova to recreate the look, using reference images from Parton’s book Behind the Seams. Because most photos showed Parton seated, they relied on limited full-body references to reconstruct the outfit accurately. The process reportedly took about a day and a half.
For makeup, artist Jessica Candage opted for subtle peach and neutral tones that complemented both Moroney’s features and Parton’s classic aesthetic.
The shoot carried extra meaning for Moroney, who is 28—the same age Parton was when Jolene was released. A longtime fan, she credited her upbringing for her deep connection to Parton’s music.
She also reflected on how Parton’s influence shaped her own confidence and artistic identity, especially when it comes to embracing her appearance and authenticity. Moroney said she admires Parton’s kindness, generosity, and the way she carries herself both publicly and privately.
Looking ahead, Moroney shared that Parton’s career inspires her to think about the future of her own journey, imagining how newer artists might one day look back and recreate her work.
“I see a lot of myself in her,” she said, reflecting on the parallels she feels with the country icon.