Country music legend Reba McEntire opened up about a poignant regret involving her late friend and fellow titan Dolly Parton, revealing during a recent interview that she missed a phone call from the icon shortly before her passing.
Speaking during a candid sit-down, the “Fancy” singer recalled looking at her phone to see a missed call notification from Parton. Before she had the opportunity to return the call, news broke of Parton’s death, leaving McEntire with an unanswerable question that continues to weigh on her.
“I saw I had a missed call from Dolly, and I meant to call her right back,” McEntire shared. “And then, before I could, the news came. I’ll never know why she called, and that’s something that stays with you. I just hope she knew how much I loved and revered her.”
A Storied Bond Between Music Row Royalty
The two country superstars shared a decades-long bond that redefined the role of women in the country music industry. As two of the most influential crossover figures in American entertainment, McEntire and Parton frequently championed each other’s careers, navigating the male-dominated landscape of Nashville’s Music Row with distinct artistry and business acumen.
While their paths crossed countless times on stage and television over the decades, the duo officially joined forces in the studio for a reworked rendition of McEntire’s classic hit “Does He Love You” for her 2021 box set Revived Remixed Revisited. The collaboration earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance and marked a historic moment for two of the genre’s most revered figures.
“Working with Dolly was always a masterclass in grace and warmth,” McEntire reflected. “She was the kind of person who made everyone feel like the most important person in the room. Not knowing what that last conversation was meant to be is hard, but the love and respect we had for each other was always understood.”
Honoring an Irreplaceable Legacy
McEntire went on to emphasize that despite the lingering mystery of that final phone call, she chooses to focus on the decades of laughter, mentorship, and musical inspiration Parton gifted to the world.
“Dolly didn’t just write songs; she wrote the soundtrack to so many lives,” McEntire added. “Her legacy isn’t just the hits or the movies—it’s how she lifted everyone around her.”
Parton’s passing prompted an outpouring of tributes across the film, television, and music industries, underscoring her stature as a global cultural icon whose influence extended far beyond the realm of country music.
