Dolly Parton recorded a duet with U2 singer Bono shortly before her death. The song, “Torn,” closes the band’s new album, Carnaval de Luz, which came out on November 13, 2026.
Parton recorded her vocals in Nashville in June. She died on August 25 at the age of 80.
Bono and Parton had discussed working together earlier that year. In January, Bono sent a bagpiper to her home as a gift for her 80th birthday. Parton later listened to some of U2’s demos and decided to work on “Torn.”
She had originally written the song about a woman who loved two men. Bono and Snow Patrol’s Johnny McDaid helped her rewrite it to deal with a dispute between two brothers.
Parton, U2 and McDaid share writing credits for the song. Jacknife Lee handled production, while Daniel Lanois played pedal steel guitar.
Speaking about the recording, Bono said the band knew Parton was sick at the time. He recalled that she had to get out of bed to record her vocals. They did not expect it to be her last recording.
Lee also said Parton heard the final mix before her death and was happy with how it turned out.
Along with the album version, U2 released a country version of “Torn,” produced by Kent Wells, to country radio on November 12.
Carnaval de Luz is U2’s first album of new songs in nine years.
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