Dolly Parton’s Final Vocal Performance to Feature on U2’s Upcoming Album ‘Carnaval De Luz’
Dolly Parton, the late country music icon who passed away on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80 following a brief battle with cancer, will posthumously feature on U2’s new song ‘Torn,’ marking her final recorded vocal performance. The duet with Bono will close the Irish band’s 16th album, ‘Carnaval De Luz,’ set for release on November 13, 2026. Parton recorded her vocals for ‘Torn’ in June 2026, just two months before her death. Bono revealed that Parton got out of her bed to record the song despite her illness, and he finds the recording difficult to listen to now. The song was co-written by U2, Parton, and Snow Patrol’s Johnny McDaid. Initially, Bono approached Parton about contributing to a separate project inspired by Irish folk music, but she suggested her own song ‘Torn’ instead. U2 reworked the lyrics to reflect a mother watching her family fracture, and Parton agreed to sing the new version. She gave the recording ‘everything she had,’ with Daniel Lanois contributing pedal steel guitar. Parton was able to hear and approve the final mix before her death. U2 paid tribute to Parton shortly after her passing, sharing an Instagram post that teased the song with the caption ‘Every heart is torn.’ The band had a longstanding friendship with Parton, including a birthday surprise for her 80th birthday in January 2026. U2 was named MusiCares’ 2027 Persons of the Year, following in Parton’s footsteps after she received the honor in 2019. Parton remained a prolific collaborator in her final years, featuring on Sabrina Carpenter’s 2025 remake of ‘Please Please Please’ and her 2023 album ‘Rockstar,’ which featured guests like Miley Cyrus, Stevie Nicks, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Elton John, and Sting. ‘Rockstar’ became her highest-charting album, reaching Number Three on the Billboard 200. ‘Carnaval De Luz’ arrives during U2’s 50th anniversary year and marks their first full-length album of new material since 2017’s ‘Songs Of Experience.’ The band recently shared a preview of the album with the track ‘Silencio.’