Country music singer Lainey Wilson has detailed her final phone conversation with Dolly Parton as she paid tribute to the legendary star following her death at age 80.
The 34-year-old Grammy winner shared the heartfelt tribute on Instagram on Thursday, revealing that Parton passed away on Tuesday following a private battle with cancer.
Posting photos of herself alongside Parton through the years, including images of them performing together on stage and working in the recording studio, Wilson expressed her grief and gratitude for their close bond.
Writing in the post caption, Wilson reflected on their friendship. "My Dolly. I felt like you were my friend before we even met.. you made everybody feel that way," she wrote, adding that when they became friends, they always had a lot to talk about.
Wilson revealed that she had spoken to Parton just weeks before her sudden death. "I sure am glad you called a couple of weeks ago," Wilson wrote.
Final Phone Call and Personal Advice
During their final conversation, the two country artists discussed their shared profession, their spirituality, and their respective marriages. Wilson spoke about her husband, former professional football player Devlin "Duck" Hodges, while Parton spoke about her late husband Carl Dean, to whom she was married for over 50 years until his passing.
"We got to talk about the business, the sacrifice, how special Carl Dean was to you and how important Duck is to me," Wilson said of the call.
Parton also offered marital guidance to Wilson during the phone call. "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 recalled.
The conversation also touched on spirituality and Bible readings. Wilson noted that Parton encouraged her to read specific books of the Bible at a comfortable pace. "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," Wilson shared.
Parton alluded to their shared faith as she explained her commitment to her music career, telling Wilson that she felt driven to continue working. "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," Wilson said. "Well my friend, you are not. The kind of love and light you shined in your lifetime is the kind that never goes away."
Wilson expressed her deep appreciation for Parton’s legacy, saying she was thankful the Lord gave Parton a gift to share with the world and that the Lord decided to share her with everyone.
Spiritual Connection and Tributes
Looking ahead to the future, Wilson wrote about her hope of meeting Parton again in the afterlife. "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,'" she wrote.
Wilson concluded her tribute by quoting one of Parton's most famous signature songs, the 1973 hit "I Will Always Love You," writing, "I will always love you, my friend."
Daily Mail reached out to representatives for Wilson for further comment on the story.
Career Mentorship and Studio Collaboration
Parton had long served as a key role model for Wilson throughout her rising career in country music. In a 2023 interview with People magazine, Wilson described Parton as a mentor for navigating both life and her career, revealing that she often asked herself "What would Dolly do?" when facing decisions.
Earlier this year, Wilson spoke further about Parton's enduring influence during a Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) news conference. "I think all of y'all probably know how important Dolly is to me and my journey and how important she is to so many people," Wilson said.
She added that Parton was someone she looked up to when considering career choices. "She has definitely been somebody that I look up to when I think about like is can I do this? Can I not? Should I do this? Should I not? Should I say this, should I not? She somehow always does it with grace," Wilson explained.
The two singers previously collaborated in 2023 on a cover of the Judds' hit song "Mama He's Crazy." Wilson spoke glowingly about the experience of working together in the recording studio.
"I got to spend time with her in the studio," Wilson recalled during the BMI conference, "and just having her coach me up and just the banter that me and her have been able to have with each other, I feel like I've known her from another lifetime."
