Lainey Wilson Reveals Her Final Conversation With Dolly Parton in Emotional Tribute
“The kind of love and light you shined in your lifetime is the kind that never goes away.”
Dolly Parton, Lainey Wilson; Photo Courtesy of Lainey Wilson
Lainey Wilson has shared a deeply personal tribute to her friend and musical hero, Dolly Parton. In her emotional message, Wilson reflected on the connection she felt with Parton even before they met and opened up about the special friendship they developed over the years.
“My Dolly. 💛 I felt like you were my friend before we even met.. you made everybody feel that way. But once we became friends, boy did we have a lot to talk about,” Wilson began.
The Louisiana native then reflected on their final conversation, which took place just weeks before Parton’s passing. During their call, the two friends spoke about life in the music business, the sacrifices that come with it, their marriages and their shared faith.
“I sure am glad you called a couple of weeks ago. We got to talk about the business, the sacrifice, how special Carl Dean was to you and how important Duck is to me.. you told me that ‘it’s all great and stuff that Duck lets you be you, but you better make sure you let Duck be himself too.’”
Wilson also recalled the spiritual advice Parton shared with her, including encouraging her to take her time while reading the Bible.
“You also told me to take my time reading the book of Revelation and that I might need to go on back to Psalms for a minute to catch my breath. We talked about how we both feel like we were called into this business and you told me you felt like you weren’t finished. Well my friend, you are not.”
In closing, Wilson reflected on the lasting impact Parton had on her life and countless others, emphasizing that the love and light she shared will continue to live on.
“The kind of love and light you shined in your lifetime is the kind that never goes away. I am thankful the Lord gave you a gift, you decided to share it, and the Lord decided to share you with us. I can’t wait to see you again and I know when I hug your neck in heaven someday you are still gonna be saying, ‘don’t mess up hair, Lainey girl.’ I will always love you, my friend.”
Wilson’s admiration for Parton dates back long before their friendship. In 2020, she released “WWDD,” a song inspired by the country icon and built around the question, “What would Dolly do?” throughout the track.
“In them heels, in that dress/ Wouldn’t put up with no BS/ She’d kill you with some kindness, take the high road/ Turn a little rain into a rainbow,” she sings.
Years later, Wilson and Parton would get the opportunity to share a song together, joining forces on a new rendition of “Mama He’s Crazy” by The Judds as part of a star-studded tribute album.
Although Wilson’s love for Parton had been evident for years, the two country stars didn’t meet face-to-face until the 2023 ACM Awards. During the ceremony, Parton took the stage to present Wilson with the Female Artist of the Year award.
Their first in-person meeting came after they had already recorded their vocals for their rendition of “Mama He’s Crazy,” with the two artists recording their parts separately.
Lainey Wilson, like millions of fans around the world, is mourning the loss of Dolly Parton and the immense void her passing has left behind. The country star is remembering Parton not only as a musical hero, but as a dear friend whose impact on her life will never be forgotten.
Dolly Parton passed away on Tuesday, August 25, 2026 after a brief battle with cancer. Her music and legacy will live on forever.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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