Reba McEntire Reveals She Missed Dolly Parton’s Final Call: “I’ll Find Out One Day”
Reba McEntire is still carrying one unanswered question from her final weeks with Dolly Parton.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, McEntire recalled that she and Parton had finally managed to reconnect after struggling to find time in their busy schedules. Their conversation meant a great deal to McEntire, who said she was reluctant to end the call because she knew how difficult it could be for the two longtime friends to catch up.
But only weeks later, Parton called again. This time, McEntire missed it.
The Call McEntire Never Got to Return
McEntire explained that staying in touch with Parton had never been easy. Both women maintained demanding careers, and their schedules often kept them apart.
“It took us a long time to connect because of our schedules and things,” McEntire said. “It was really special when we finally did connect and get to talk.”
She added that she did not want to keep Parton on the phone because she knew her friend was always busy. At the same time, McEntire admitted she did not want the conversation to end.
The two eventually said goodbye. Then, toward the end of July, Parton tried to reach her again.
“She did call me the last of July, and I was in a meeting and I missed her call,” McEntire told Entertainment Tonight. “I tried to get back in touch with her and I couldn’t, never made a connection.”
Parton died on Aug. 25 at age 80. When McEntire received the news, the missed call immediately came back to her.
“I’ll never know why she called me,” she recalled.
Then, through tears, McEntire added, “I’ll find out one day.”
She also reflected on what Parton had meant to so many people.
“What a blessing she was for all of us.”
McEntire’s Emotional Tribute to Parton
After Parton’s death, McEntire turned to Instagram to remember her longtime friend and the decades of memories they shared.
“Dolly, thank you for all the wonderful things you did for us here on earth,” McEntire wrote. “Your love, your music and you gave so much with your huge huge heart.”
McEntire went on to describe Parton as irreplaceable, writing that there would “never ever be another” Dolly and that she would continue to cherish every memory and every note Parton played and sang.
She also looked ahead to Parton’s life beyond this one, writing, “Thank you, Lord, for Dolly,” before imagining her friend singing her favorite songs alongside family and friends who had died before her. McEntire ended the tribute by saying she would never forget either the first time she met Parton or their final conversation, which she said she held “with love” in her heart.
A Friendship That Spanned Decades
McEntire and Parton’s friendship stretched back to 1977, when McEntire met Parton during her Grand Ole Opry debut.
McEntire later recalled that she had been scheduled to sing two songs that night. One was going to be cut because Parton had arrived unexpectedly. Rather than being upset about losing part of her performance, McEntire was thrilled simply to have the chance to meet one of her musical heroes.
Over the years, the two continued to cross paths through music and television. Parton appeared on McEntire’s sitcom Reba in 2005, and the singers eventually recorded together on a new version of “Does He Love You” in 2021. Parton took over the part originally recorded by Linda Davis on McEntire’s classic duet.
Their 2021 collaboration also gave the two women time away from the cameras. McEntire later said one of her favorite parts of making the video was being able to sit with Parton and talk between takes.
That history makes the missed July call especially poignant. McEntire had spent nearly five decades knowing Parton, working with her and collecting memories of their time together, yet she never learned what her friend wanted to say during that final attempt to reach her.
McEntire Honored Parton at the 2026 Emmys
Just a few weeks after Parton’s death, McEntire paid tribute to her again on the 2026 Emmy Awards stage.
At the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, McEntire performed Parton’s “Appalachian Memories” in honor of the late singer. The song, written and recorded by Parton, was tied closely to her Appalachian upbringing and family roots.
The performance carried another personal connection. McEntire wore a white, sparkling gown as a nod to Parton, who had worn a white fringed gown when she performed “Appalachian Memories” in connection with her 1983 Live in London special. McEntire explained that she wanted her look to have the same kind of sparkle associated with Parton.
She also wore jewelry from Parton’s collection.
Parton’s niece, Rebecca, agreed to loan McEntire a pair of rhinestone earrings and a butterfly ring for the Emmy performance. The earrings carried an especially personal connection: Parton had worn them in the music video for her 2021 collaboration with McEntire on “Does He Love You.”
“It was an honor to have a little piece of her on stage with me,” McEntire told Vogue. “I picked a pair of rhinestone earrings and a butterfly ring. There’s nothing that says Dolly more than rhinestones and butterflies!”
Remembering Dolly Through Music
For McEntire, the Emmy tribute brought together many of the things that defined her relationship with Parton: music, friendship, shared memories and the distinctive style that made Parton instantly recognizable.
McEntire has said that she and Parton did not speak as often as she would have liked because both were constantly working. Their conversations sometimes happened when they were together professionally, and the two shared stories about their families and mutual friends.
Their final exchange now carries a different weight for McEntire. She knows she missed Parton’s last call, and she knows she was never able to return it.
For now, the reason for that call remains unanswered.
“I’ll find out one day,” McEntire said.