'I Don’t Cuss. I Don’t Make Fun of Jesus,’ Dolly Parton Sets Boundaries before Singing with Sabrina Carpenter

Milton Quintanilla

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By Milton Quintanilla, Crosswalk.com

Dolly Parton has joined forces with pop star Sabrina Carpenter on a new non-explicit version of Carpenter's hit single, "Please Please Please," as she had stressed to Carpenter that she does not mock God or cuss.

"Of course, she can talk a little bad now and then," Parton told the Knoxville News Sentinel in an interview. "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."

"Please Please Please," which appears on Carpenter's sixth studio album, "Short n' Sweet," is one of three singles on the album along with "Espresso" and "Taste," Church Leaders reports. All three singles made the top of the Hot 100 chart, with "Please Please Please" making the No. 1 spot. Overall, Carpenter's three songs appearing together in the Hot 100 for at least eight weeks set a new record.

In the original music video for "Please Please Please," Carpenter is seen picking up her romantic interest (played by her then-boyfriend, Irish actor Barry Keoghan) from jail multiple times. However, he continues to commit various crimes despite the singer asking him to show that he's "a stand-up guy." The lyrics, which contain explicit language, read in part:

Heartbreak is one thing
My ego's another
I beg you, don't embarrass me, mother******, ah-oh
Please, please, please

The version with Parton, however, replaces the explicit lyrics with "I beg you, don't embarrass me like the others." Meanwhile, the music video featuring both artists shows them driving down a road in a truck while attempting to avoid the police. Additionally, a man who is tied up, a bag of money, and a shovel is seen in the bed of the truck.

Parton, who is one of the bestselling female artists of all time has frequently collaborated with a number of both secular and Christian artists, including Beyoncé, Willie Nelson, Paul McCartney, for KING + COUNTRY, and Zach Williams.

These collaborations, however, have not been without criticism, such as when Parton collaborated with Kid Rock on her 2023 album Rockstar.

"I love everybody. I don't criticize, I don't condone nor condemn. I just accept them. But anyhow, just because I love you don't mean I don't love Kid Rock in that God way," she said in response.

WATCH: Sabrina Carpenter - Please Please Please ft. Dolly Parton

Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.

More about Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton is a legendary country music icon, philanthropist, and outspoken Christian whose faith has always been at the heart of her music and mission. Known for timeless hits like “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You,” Dolly often weaves biblical themes of love, grace, and redemption into her work. She speaks frequently about her deep relationship with God, crediting Him for her success and calling to serve others. From funding vaccine research to giving away millions of books through her Imagination Library, Dolly’s life is marked by generosity and purpose. Her enduring legacy reminds us that humility, faith, and kindness never go out of style.