Reba McEntire is carrying one unanswered question about her longtime friend Dolly Parton—and she knows she may have to wait a long time before she gets the answer.
The two country legends shared a friendship that stretched across decades, filled with music, memories, and mutual admiration. Following Parton’s death in August 2026, McEntire has continued to honor the woman she considered a dear friend, including an emotional performance of “Appalachian Memories” during the 2026 Primetime Emmys tribute.
But amid the memories, one small moment from the final weeks of Parton’s life continues to stay with McEntire: a phone call she missed and was never able to return.
Reba Still Wonders Why Dolly Called
Parton called McEntire toward the end of July while Reba was in a meeting. By the time McEntire was free and tried to call her back, the two never managed to reconnect.
Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, McEntire explained that she had been unable to reach Parton after missing the call. When she later learned that Parton had died, one thought immediately came to mind: she would never know what Dolly had wanted to tell her.
McEntire said she believes she will eventually discover the reason for that call, adding that she will “find out one day.”
The moment adds another deeply personal layer to McEntire’s memories of Parton, whose friendship meant so much to her throughout her career.
Reba’s Emotional Tribute to Dolly
After Parton’s death, McEntire publicly remembered her friend with a heartfelt message, thanking her for the love, music, generosity, and memories she shared with so many people.
McEntire also carried that love onto the Emmy stage when she performed “Appalachian Memories” as part of the tribute to Parton. The song, originally released by Parton in 1983, reflected her Appalachian roots and the experiences that shaped her life and music.
McEntire’s performance became another way of celebrating the connection between Parton’s music and the place she came from.
Dolly Parton’s Music Was Deeply Connected to Her Faith
Faith was another important theme throughout Parton’s extensive catalog. From early gospel recordings to later collaborations, she frequently explored Christianity, prayer, Heaven, forgiveness, and hope.
Her 1971 album The Golden Streets of Glory was devoted to spiritual material and included songs such as “Heaven’s Just a Prayer Away,” “Golden Streets of Glory,” and “Book of Life.” The album drew heavily from the gospel music Parton grew up hearing in church.
“Holy” themes continued throughout her career. Songs such as “He’s Alive,” “The Seeker,” and “When Jesus Comes Calling for Me” reflected different aspects of her beliefs, while “When I Get Where I’m Going,” recorded with Brad Paisley, explored the hope of reaching Heaven and being reunited with loved ones.
Parton’s faith was not limited to traditional gospel recordings, either. Her collaboration with Zach Williams on “There Was Jesus” brought those themes into a contemporary Christian setting, focusing on finding God during difficult and uncertain moments.
For fans looking back at Parton’s extraordinary career, those songs offer another glimpse into the beliefs and experiences that shaped her as an artist.
And for McEntire, the memories go beyond the music. There is still that unanswered phone call from July—a final mystery between two longtime friends that she believes she will understand someday.