As Dolly Parton’s fans and friends mourn the music legend’s death on August 25, 2026, among them is her country music bestie, Reba McEntire. The singer, actress and coach on “The Voice” posted a heartbreaking tribute and message for Parton, telling her, “There will never be another you.”
Parton’s shocking death at 80 comes nearly a year after McEntire shared a video message for the icon amid false reports that she was at Parton’s bedside as she dealt with a grave illness. While Parton has stepped back from multiple appearances over the last year due to health issues, she said at the time that reports had blown things way out of proportion.
Reba McEntire Thanked Dolly Parton For All of Her Contributions to the World
McEntire began her tribute, featuring multiple throwback photos of her with Parton, by writing, “Well, I just got the news that my buddy Dolly passed onto the higher and greater side.”
Addressing the late singer-songwriter directly, she continued, “Dolly, thank you for all the wonderful things you did for us here on earth. Your love, your music and you gave so much with your huge huge heart.There will never ever be another you. We will remember and cherish every memory and every note you ever played and sang.”
“Thank you, Lord, for Dolly,” McEntire wrote. “She’s gonna have a blast in heaven singing all her favorite songs with all her family and friends who have gone on before her.”
In a final message for her longtime pal, McEntire wrote, “I’ll never forget the first time I met you and I’ll never forget our last conversation. I hold it with love in my heart.” Ending her post with the words of one of Parton’s biggest hits, McEntire signed her note, “I will always love you, Reba.”
McEntire’s co-star on “Happy’s Place,” Melissa Peterson, wrote in the comment section, “I will never forget the week she spent with us doing the tv show. She was everything you wanted her to be and more. She could do everything. I loved her music, her movies, her sense of humor, her outlook on life. I loved her. Beautiful tribute @reba for your beautiful friend @dollyparton 💔”
Dolly Parton & Reba McEntire Addressed AI Photos of Them in October 2025
In October 2025, Parton issued a video statement to set the record straight about health issues that had caused her to cancel multiple appearances. But that didn’t keep internet trolls from circulating an AI-generated image of Parton looking very ill and McEntire sitting at her bedside.
Parton addressed the hoax in her video, recorded while filming promos at the Grand Ole Opry. She laughed, “Did you see that AI picture of Reba and me? Oh lordy, I mean, they had Reba at my death bed and we both looked like we need to be buried. But I thought, ‘Oh my lord! But if I was really dying, I don’t think Reba would be the one at my death bed. She might come visit me earlier.”
Parton lightheartedly continued, “I figured if you heard it from me, you’d know that I was okay. So anyhow, that’s what I wanted to say, and I’m not ready to die yet. I don’t think God is through with me, and I ain’t done working.”
McEntire responded the next day with her own video, in which she said, “You tell ’em Dolly! That AI mess has got us doing all kind of crazy things.”
Sharing screenshots of the fake images making the rounds, including one of herself supposedly holding sonogram images, McEntire continued, “You’re out there dying. I’m out here having a baby. Well, both of us know you’re too young and I’m too old for any of that nonsense. But you better know I’m praying for you. I love you with all my heart and I can’t wait to see you soon. Love you!”
