// BBC ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS — MODA & SOCIETÀ
Dolly Parton's niece wants to learn Welsh after singing with Bronwen Lewis
Jada Star, a country singer from Tennessee, recorded a Welsh language version of Jolene, alongside singer Bronwen Lewis, from Blaendeulais
Dolly Parton's niece wants to learn Welsh after recording a Welsh language version of one of her late aunt's most famous songs, Jolene.
Jada Star, a country singer from Tennessee, said: "I truly believe anyone can speak Welsh; it's such a lovely feeling to speak the language, it's a comfortable language."
The track was recorded before Parton's death on 25 August and features vocals from the legendary singer-songwriter herself, who sings alongside Star and singer Bronwen Lewis, from Blaendeulais.
Since the songs release, Star has said she would like to "roam every inch of Wales" and perhaps visit the Eisteddfod one day, as she enjoys learning more about Wales and the Welsh language.
Star and Lewis after recording in a studio in Southampton, while Parton recorded her parts in her studio in Nashville
With Star having started learning Welsh on Duolingo, she said that some of her favourite Welsh words so far are Draig (dragon) and Pilipala (butterfly).
"When I came to Wales to see Bronwen, I put a lot of effort into learning Welsh; I was on Duolingo all the time, though I need to pick it up again.
"The app puts sentences together in such a beautiful way, and they're full of dragons," she laughed. "It's fun."
Star explained that the first Welsh words she learned were shwmae and diolch, meaning hello and thank you, to allow her to "greet people in Welsh".