20 years ago, Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton recorded a duet, which is the popular country song “When I get Where I’m Going.” Two days after Dolly’s death, Paisley performed a concert as scheduled in Connecticut’s Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater and paid tribute to Dolly by performing their duet.
This time, the song hit Paisley in a new way, because it now applied to Dolly as well. Paisley spoke to his audience about the song after performing it, and he was visibly emotional during this time as he explained the origin of the song, which was the loss of loved ones. After Dolly’s passing, the song hit Paisley differently as he paid tribute by singing it in memory of his original duet partner from its origin.
The Creation of Paisley and Dolly’s Duet ‘When I Get Where I’m Going’
Paisley addressed his audience and said that he recorded the song and sent it to Dolly, telling her that he’d lost some people in his life and mentioned that he wasn’t sure if it would relate to her. He continued saying, “And she immediately said, ‘Yes, let me sing on that.'”
Just like that, the country hit song about loss and Heaven was created. Given its origin, the stars who sang it, and the meaning of the song, there isn’t a more perfect way for Paisley to pay tribute to legendary country music star and philanthropist Dolly Parton.
Paisley also took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message about Dolly in a caption of a video that featured photos of her as their duet played, saying “I never imagined this day would come. Getting to know Dolly was life changing, but not just for me. For everyone. She seemed immortal.”
He continued the caption with, “And in the spirit of what we sang together on this song, I believe she is.
It won’t be the same down here without you Dolly. But what a legacy of goodness and art you leave for all of us.
Goodbye hero. We will always love you.”
Dolly’s Legacy Will Live On
From the outpouring of love alone, it’s clear that Dolly will live on in the hearts of many. Her dedication to helping others has had a lasting effect on the world, and she’ll continue to help through the charities she set up and research she funded, such as the Moderna Covid vaccine at the height of the pandemic.
Even her final days were spent with the intention of making a difference for others, as it was revealed that she wanted experimental cancer treatments used on her if there was no hope, because she wanted to be able to make a difference in the research and treatment for others even if it wasn’t going to save her.
Perhaps her most memorable legacy is her Imagination Library, a charity that provides free books to children. Dolly loved reading and wanted to share that love with the world, and her drive to do so provided countless children with opportunities to read, learn, and grow that they might not have had otherwise.
Rest in peace, Dolly. Our hearts go out to Dolly, her family, and everybody who loves her during this difficult time.
