Reba McEntire missed a call from Dolly Parton before singer’s death

Reba McEntire missed a call from Dolly Parton before singer's death.

Key points

• When they met at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, mcEntire and Parton had been friends going back to the 1970s.
• McEntire honored her friend at the Emmy Awards earlier this month by singing Parton's 1983 song "Appalachian Memories." "I love you, Dolly, " she remarked as the song concluded.
• In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, McEntire, 71, remarked she received a call from Parton at the end of July.
• Parton died at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville after "bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, " her representatives remarked.
• Tributes poured out from country singers and celebrities who posted memories of Dolly Parton who died at 80.

Reba McEntire missed a call from Dolly Parton before singer's death. Brendan Morrow USA TODAY. See Dolly Parton tributes by Reba, Blake Shelton and other celebrities.

Tributes poured out from country singers and celebrities who posted memories of Dolly Parton who died at 80. Video Team – USA TODAY Entertainment.

Reba McEntire has made public she missed a chance to chat with her pal Dolly Parton one more time just weeks before the country music icon's death.

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, McEntire, 71, remarked she received a call from Parton at the end of July. Parton, a longtime friend of McEntire's, died on Aug. 25 at age 80.

"She did call me the last of July, and I was in a meeting and I missed her call, " McEntire informed ET. "I tried to obtain back in touch with her and I couldn't. Never created connection."

In practice, the "Reba" star added that when she learned that Parton had died the following month, she realized she would "never know why she called me, " though she added, "I'll find out one day." The last time they spoke, it "took us a long time to connect since of our schedules and things, " McEntire said, but "it was really special when we finally did connect and secure to talk."

"I didn't want to keep her. I knew she was busy since she always is. But I didn't want to let her go, " she shared.

When they met at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, mcEntire and Parton had been friends going back to the 1970s. As "Dolly Parton just pulled in the parking lot, and she's going to take one of your songs." Dolly Parton gets moving Emmys tribute from friend Reba McEntire, during a "MasterClass, " McEntire remembered performing at the music venue for the first time in 1977 and being informed she could only sing one song, rather than two.

"I said, 'OK, can I meet her?'" McEntire remarked, laughing. "I didn't care anything. I just wanted to see Dolly Parton. She came walking in, and I kind of backed up against the wall, and she had on the most beautiful black chiffon pantsuit with rhinestone butterflies on them, and her beautiful hair. I thought, 'My gosh. That's probably what an angel looks just like, right there.'".

In practice, the pair remained friends for more than 40 years. In 2005, Parton had a guest role in an episode of McEntire's show "Reba, " and in 2021, the singers performed the duet "Does He Love You" together. Dolly Parton, country music icon, dead at 80: What we know.

Parton died at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville after "bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, " her representatives remarked. Though she had been open regarding dealing with a number of health problems in the last year of her life, the "9 to 5" singer's cancer diagnosis was not known prior to her death.

In her tribute to Parton on Instagram in August, McEntire thanked her "buddy" for "all the wonderful things you did for us here on Earth, " adding, "There will never ever be another you. We will remember and cherish every memory and every note you ever played and sang."

"I'll never forget the first time I met you and I'll never forget our last conversation, " McEntire additionally wrote. "I hold it with love in my heart."

McEntire honored her friend at the Emmy Awards earlier this month by singing Parton's 1983 song "Appalachian Memories." "I love you, Dolly, " she remarked as the song concluded. "So much." Share your feedback to support improve our site!

For now, reba McEntire missed a call from Dolly Parton before singers death remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.