Dolly Parton’s Final Vocals Featured on ‘Torn,’ a Duet with Bono from U2 Recorded Just Weeks Before Her Death

Coverage from WZTV, WHIO TV, ABC News Australia, Yahoo, and the Dolly Parton Official Website confirms that the country icon's last studio session produced a duet with U2 frontman Bono titled "Torn." The track received its world premiere on Thursday, November 12, 2026, and is slated for inclusion on an upcoming U2 album according to WZTV's reporting. WHIO TV specifies the song will be released Friday following the Thursday premiere, while the official Dolly Parton website frames the event as "The Final Song Dolly Recorded World Premieres Thursday, Nov. 12." ABC News Australia's coverage examines how U2 recruited Parton for what became a posthumous collaboration, though the outlets do not disclose the exact recording date beyond noting it occurred weeks before her death. No cause of death, exact date of passing, or details about Parton's final days appear in the available coverage.

The five sources converge on the core facts: a duet exists, it features Parton's final vocals, Bono is her counterpart, the song is called "Torn," and the premiere timeline centers on November 12-13, 2026. The Dolly Parton Official Website serves as a primary source, lending authority to the "final song" characterization. ABC News Australia provides international perspective on the recruitment process. Yahoo aggregates the story for broader digital distribution. None of the headlines quote Parton, Bono, or U2 bandmates directly, nor do they name producers, studios, or album titles beyond the U2 album reference in WZTV's headline.

The "weeks before her death" framing suggests the recording was not initially conceived as a final statement, adding poignancy. The Thursday world premiere followed by Friday release indicates a coordinated rollout between Parton's estate and U2's label apparatus. Coverage does not specify whether "Torn" is an original composition or a cover, nor does it address Parton's health leading up to the session.

What to watch next: the full U2 album announcement and tracklist, which WZTV indicates will include "Torn"; any statements from Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, or Larry Mullen Jr. about the collaboration; potential music video or visual accompaniment; chart performance across country, rock, and streaming metrics; and whether Parton's estate or Dollywood releases additional archival material. The official website's "World Premieres" language suggests further promotional events may follow. Coverage does not yet specify label details, producer credits, or whether the session was recorded in Nashville, Dublin, or remotely.