The Dolly Parton Question Reba McEntire Still Doesn’t Have An Answer For

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Reba McEntire is left with one question after a phone call from Dolly Parton that she never got to answer.

Parton called her longtime friend in late July, but McEntire was sitting in a meeting and missed it. She tried returning the call; however, the two country stars never connected again before Parton died on August 25.

Reba McEntire’s friendship with Dolly Parton stretches back decades, beginning with an unexpected meeting at the Grand Ole Opry in 1977. The country singer died at 80 after a private battle with an undisclosed form of cancer. 

Reba McEntire Missed Dolly Parton’s Last Call

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McEntire revealed in an interview that Parton reached out to her just weeks before her death at 80. She had already spoken with Parton shortly before the missed call.

Their schedules had made it difficult to connect, making their eventual conversation especially meaningful to McEntire. “I didn’t want to keep her,” McEntire recalled.

She knew Parton was always busy, but she also admitted, “I didn’t want to let her go.” Parton reportedly reached out again in the final weeks of her life. McEntire was unable to answer the late singer’s call.

McEntire explained the moment during her September 25 interview with Entertainment Tonight. “She did call me the last of July, and I was in a meeting, and I missed her call,” she said. She tried to return the call afterward. However, they never managed to make a connection before Parton died.

The morning of August 25, McEntire received a call from her friend Lisa Davis. Davis delivered the news that Parton was gone, leaving McEntire immediately thinking about the missed call. “I’ll never know why she called me,” McEntire said, before adding, “So, I’ll find out one day.”

The 50 Years Of Friendship Started With A Surprise

McEntire’s friendship with Parton began at the Grand Ole Opry on September 17, 1977. She had arrived expecting to perform two songs, only to learn that Parton had unexpectedly pulled into the parking lot. One of McEntire’s scheduled songs was suddenly going to Parton.

Rather than being upset, McEntire was reportedly excited about meeting the country legend. She reportedly asked if she could meet Parton after hearing the news. The singer later recalled the moment during a MasterClass session, describing Parton’s appearance in vivid detail.

She remembered a black chiffon pantsuit covered with rhinestone butterflies and Parton’s beautiful hair. McEntire said, “My gosh, that’s probably what an angel looks just like right there.”

McEntire remembered receiving the news backstage. She was told that she would only perform one song because Parton had arrived. McEntire recalled asking why she could no longer sing both songs.

NBC reported on McEntire’s memorable response to the situation. “I said, ‘Shoot, she can have both of ’em!’” McEntire recalled. Her reaction showed how little the change mattered compared with the excitement of meeting Parton.

That night marked the beginning of a friendship that continued for more than four decades. McEntire would later describe both her first meeting and final conversation with Parton as memories she would never forget.

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Reba McEntire Called Dolly Parton ‘A Rare Gem’ After Her Death

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McEntire shared a touching tribute after Dolly Parton passed away on August 25. She described the Grammy winner as “a rare gem”  whose music changed the world.

The American singer took to X after learning that her friend had passed on to the “higher and greater side.” In the tribute, she thanked Parton for her generosity and musical talent, saying there would never be another like her.

“We will remember and cherish every memory and every note you ever played and sang,” the tribute read. McEntire also thanked God for Parton and imagined her singing her favorite songs with family and friends who had gone before her.

She remembered not only the songs Parton gave the world but also the memories they created together. Fans also used McEntire’s X post to remember Parton and praise the friendship between the two country stars.

One commenter called them “Two queens of country music” and praised the generosity their friendship represented. The fan added that their bond showed “there was room at the top for everyone.” The comment also described that generosity of spirit as something that was distinctly Dolly, as shared by The Blast

How Parton Supported McEntire During Her Downtime

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McEntire faced a devastating loss in 1991 when eight members of her touring team died in a plane crash. The tragedy was so painful that she revealed that she considered quitting music. The crash killed musicians Chris Austin, Kirk Cappello, Joey Cigainero, Paula Kaye Evans, Jim Hammon, Terry Jackson, Tony Saputo, and Michael Thomas.

McEntire, her then-husband Narvel Blackstock, and her stylist had planned to leave San Diego on a different flight the following day. Other country stars offered McEntire support after the tragedy. Parton went further by offering McEntire the use of her touring band as she worked to rebuild her stage show, according to the source.

The singer eventually returned to performing despite the loss. She also dedicated an album to her deceased band members, and the project’s success became a turning point in her decision to return to the stage. In March 2024, she marked the 33rd anniversary of the tragedy with a social media tribute.

Parton’s support therefore became part of McEntire’s memories of one of the hardest periods of her career. Her offer of a touring band gave McEntire practical help while she tried to find her way back to the stage.

Dolly Parton Made A Wish Before Her Death

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Parton reportedly did not want her loved ones remembering her in a weakened state during her final moments. She reportedly asked that visitors stay away, with one exception made for longtime wig and makeup artist Cheryl Riddle. Riddle was trusted to prepare Parton after her death so she would look as she wished for her open-casket service.

The late country singer’s nephew Bryan Seaver, her former head of security, was also reportedly allowed to visit the day before she died. During that visit, Parton entrusted Seaver with announcing her death to the public.

The Blast reported that he later recorded the announcement at Parton’s studio, which was shared on her social media on August 25. Parton’s sister Stella also explained the family’s decision to keep her cancer private during an appearance on “CBS Mornings.” 

“Dolly did not want anybody to tell that because Dolly could not bear negative things,” Stella said, adding that Parton would not have wanted fans worried about her. She also explained, “It’s not my business to tell her business,” reflecting Parton’s wishes for privacy.

Parton’s final wishes were not the only way her legacy continued after her death. Her 2022 recording of “Bound to Ride” was set for a posthumous release on “Where the Soul Never Dies: Celebrating 80 Years of The Stanley Brothers.” 

Reba McEntire now carries that unanswered question alongside the memories of the years of friendship with Dolly Parton.

The The Dolly Parton Question Reba McEntire Still Doesn’t Have An Answer For first appeared on The Blast