Dolly Parton’s final recorded vocal came only two months before her death, when the country legend got out of bed while ill to record a duet with Bono.
Parton recorded “Torn” in June for U2’s upcoming album Carnaval De Luz. Bono said the circumstances surrounding the session can be heard in her performance.
“When she got ill, she got out of her bed to sing this song,” he told Rolling Stone. “And you can hear that. And I can’t even listen to it now.”
Parton was 80 when she recorded the vocal. Producer Garret “Jacknife” Lee said she heard and approved the completed version before her death on Aug. 25, while U2 has confirmed that the duet will close its next studio album.
‘Torn’ Began With a Different Invitation From Bono
Bono initially approached Parton about contributing to a separate, still-unreleased project influenced by Irish folk music. He played some of the material for her over the phone, but Parton decided it was too Irish for her own musical style.
She instead brought Bono a song called “Torn” and asked what he could do with it.
Bono and Snow Patrol’s Johnny McDaid continued developing the lyrics around the idea of a mother watching divisions grow within her family. Parton shares the writing credit with McDaid and U2.
The finished recording pairs Parton with Bono and includes pedal steel guitar from Daniel Lanois. Larry Mullen Jr. played drums, with his approach to the track influenced by Bob Dylan’s “Most of the Time.”
Parton Heard the Finished Recording Before Her Death
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Lee said the team was nervous about playing the completed mix for Parton because they wanted to know whether she was comfortable with what they had done with her song and performance.
Parton heard the finished version before she died and was proud of both her vocal and the recording, according to Lee.
She died peacefully in Nashville on Aug. 25 at age 80, according to the official announcement on her website. Her representatives later said she had faced a brief battle with cancer, although the type was not publicly disclosed.
The following day, U2 shared a sketch of Parton drawn by Bono alongside the message, “Every heart is torn.” The artwork also included lines from the then-unreleased collaboration.
Parton’s Final Vocal Will Close U2’s New Album
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“Torn” will be the closing track on Carnaval De Luz, U2’s 16th studio album and its first full album of new material in nine years.
The band’s official album announcement identifies Parton’s contribution as her final recorded vocal performance and describes “Torn” as a country song about fractured family relationships.
Jacknife Lee produced the album, which also includes contributions from collaborators including Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois and Martin Garrix.
Carnaval De Luz will be released Nov. 13, with “Torn (Feat. Dolly Parton)” closing the record.