Dolly Parton's "Jolene" Reimagined as Anti-Karen Anthem

'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is begging of you, please just wear a mask

BY Allie GregoryPublished Jul 24, 2020

We've all seen it: the bottomless well of videos showing entitled, angry, maskless shoppers — usually of the ubiquitous Karen variety — throwing tantrums inside of privately-owned retail stores for being refused service in the coronavirus era. While we may never succeed in convincing them to shop responsibly, at least now we have an anthem to chant at them when they get rowdy.

COVID-19 is, without a doubt, a very, very serious issue — but thanks to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, we can sing our sorrows away with this new anti-Karen anthem, a reimagining of Dolly Parton's 1974 hit "Jolene."

The 2020 twist on Parton's classic, aptly titled "Karen, Please Just Wear a Mask," puts a spotlight on these pandemic misbehavers, urging anti-masker shoppers to stop throwing fits inside of grocery stores, coughing on people in restaurants, licking door handles and getting violent for no reason.

"You go on rants at Trader Joe's / Sit on the ground at the Costco / Say wearing masks is the devil's law," a Parton impersonator sings at the top of the spoof. The accompanying video itself is a greatest-hits slideshow of the worst offenders the pandemic has offered so far. 

Therein lies a lesson we can all hold onto during these unprecedented times: be kind to each other, try a little patience, and please, please wear a mask — unless you want to end up in a viral video. Oh, and when given a chance, shame the absolute shit out of people who abuse retail workers. 

Watch the video below.

Latest Coverage