Rising Country Singer Belles Says Dolly Parton's Final Collaboration Taught Her to "Follow My God Gut"

When Belles first heard that Dolly Parton not only loved "Son of Jolene," the modern continuation of the timeless classic "Jolene," but wanted to sing on it, she could never have pictured that the song would come to exist as Parton's final collaboration of her historic, 60-plus-year career.

However, when news broke on Tuesday, August 25, that Parton had died at 80 years old following a "brief battle with cancer," it became immediately clear that "Son of Jolene" is now much more than another beautiful addition to Parton's discography; it stands as both a proverbial farewell and a passing of the torch to a new generation of women in country music.

A Dream Come True

To no one is this more evident than Belles herself. The rising Nebraska-born country singer, 27, tells PEOPLE during a powerfully emotional conversation just hours after learning about Parton's death that she was "on the radio talking about how much I love Dolly and how much this collab meant to me for my show in Portland when the news broke."

"I literally thought it was a joke. I couldn't believe it," she recalls of her initial shock. The news of Parton's passing was a devastating blow, not only to the world but to a young artist who had just been given the opportunity of a lifetime.

The Birth of "Son of Jolene"

Back in February, when PEOPLE published the first reveal of "Son of Jolene," Parton exclusively shared, "When I heard 'Son of Jolene,' I thought it was very clever. No one had ever thought of it that way." At the time, Belles noted, "It was actually my publisher, Stephanie Greene, who got the song to Kent Wells, who's Dolly's producer. And he really loved it and was like, 'Hey, I'm going to play this for Dolly, because I think she would really love it.'"

And love it she did. Parton was so enamored by Belles' continuation of the "Jolene" legacy that she both sent her blessing and an offer to collaborate on the track. The collaboration was a testament to Parton's generosity and her willingness to support emerging artists.

Advice That Stuck

In the wake of Parton's death, Belles tells PEOPLE that the experience of meeting and working with the legendary figure left her feeling "so grateful and honored." She also recalls the advice that Parton imparted to her, noting that the "9 to 5" singer shared tidbits "that have really, really stuck with me."

That sage knowledge? The 11-time Grammy winner told her to "follow my God gut. Which I love... and I literally say that to myself almost every day when I'm making decisions." "And then she told me there's a lot of chances in this world, so don't sacrifice your character or your beliefs for a chance because there will be another one," Belles highlights.

A Legacy of Generosity and Confidence

In terms of what she takes away from Parton's legacy, Belles makes it known that "two things come to mind." "It's her generosity, and she shared so much with me and so many other female artists and just the world and even just all of her charities. I mean, she just has left an incredible legacy," she says.

The "Hell I Won't" singer continues, "And the other thing that I really take from her, because I grew up idolizing Dolly and watched every single documentary about her and every interview, and she always knew what she wanted, and that's what she did." "She had so much self-assurance and confidence in her beliefs, and even with 'I Will Always Love You,' she kept her publishing," Belles elaborates. "I feel like that is something that I think about a lot in this industry because it's so easy to go with someone else's opinion or something. But I just feel like Dolly always knew exactly who she was, what she wanted to do, and that's what she did, and she stood strong in that. And that's always been so inspiring to me."

There's something to be said about the weight of Parton's final collaboration being an effort to translate the story of "Jolene" to another generation, and to Belles, that openness was a constant hallmark of the forever Queen of Country. Belles concludes by noting, "She was just so kind to me and just her generosity of sharing her spirit and her voice and her everything with me. I'm just literally a girl from Nebraska that grew up idolizing Dolly. And to have her take that chance on me and believe in the song and believe in me so much, I mean, it is totally and completely changed my life. And she taught me to really believe in myself too."

"Son of Jolene" is available on all major streaming services, and its accompanying performance video is available on YouTube. The song stands as a lasting tribute to Parton's generosity and her enduring impact on country music. For Belles, it is a reminder of the opportunity she was given and the legacy she now carries forward.

As the world mourns the loss of Dolly Parton, her influence continues to be felt through the artists she inspired and the music she left behind. "Son of Jolene" serves as a beautiful farewell, a passing of the torch to a new generation and a testament to the power of mentorship and belief in the next generation of storytellers.