Sabrina Carpenter Changed Her Lyrics For Dolly Parton—Because She Doesn't "Cuss Or Make Fun Of Jesus"
Sabrina Carpenter had to change the lyrics to "Please Please Please" because Dolly Parton wanted to keep it classy.
When the country icon joined Sabrina Carpenter on a reworked version of "Please Please Please" for the deluxe edition of Short n' Sweet, she had a few rules.
One, no cussing; two, do not make fun of Jesus; and three, no disrespecting God. Is it possible that Parton felt the need to lay down these rules because of the church scandal Carpenter was involved with a couple of years back?
In 2023, Carpenter used a church for her music video "Feather." She not only goes on a killing spree and targets men in the video, she also places the words "RIP B*tch" on a cross in the place of worship. Knowing this, the boundaries that Parton set make even more sense.
"Of course, she can talk a little bad now and then," Parton said in an interview with Knox News. "I told her, I said, 'Now, I don't cuss. I don't make fun of Jesus. I don't talk bad about God, and I don't say dirty words, on camera, but known to if I get mad enough.'"
The “Espresso” singer listened. The original line, "I beg you, don't embarrass me, motherf*cker," was swapped out for the more Dolly-friendly, "I beg you, don't embarrass me like the others."
At 78, Parton is still enjoying the limelight. "They're a joy to do," she said of her recent collabs. "I don't have to worry about a record label saying, 'No, you can't do that,' because I own my own music, I own my own label. So, I'm pretty independent. I can do what I please."
A Sweet Moment for Sabrina
For Carpenter, who grew up in a world where country legends feel more like fairy-tale figures, working with Parton was a pinch-me moment. And despite the lyrical tweaks, it seems like the two hit it off. "She's so sweet," Parton said about her younger counterpart.
Maybe the most surprising thing here is how refreshing it feels to hear someone draw a line. As a society, it seems we've grown numb to hypersexual songs and demonic music videos. Parton reminds fans that it’s okay to go against the grain and stick to your values (she sounds like a true Evie girl, TBH).
Parton’s been building an empire for decades—without changing who she is. "I love being able to have that freedom. I think freedom is a great word for everybody, anybody, in anything you do," she said. "Just having the freedom to work and the freedom to express yourself the way you want to."
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