Tributes continue to pour in for the late, great Dolly Parton, a music icon who sadly passed away on August 25 at the age of 80.
Along with such stars as Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson and her “Steel Magnolias” co-star Julia Roberts, music icon Dionne Warwick is also honoring her late friend.
A Musical Partnership
Warwick has recorded a string of hits over the years, including “Walk On By” and “I Say a Little Prayer.” She’s also recorded hit collaborations with other artists, including The Spinners (1974’s “Then Came You”) and the 1986 hit “That’s What Friends Are For,” joined by Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and Elton John.
In 2023, Warwick teamed up with Parton for their duet, “Peace Like a River.”
The song peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard gospel chart, reflecting the deep faith shared by both women.
‘I Will Certainly Miss Her Laughter’
Shortly after news emerged of Parton’s passing, Warwick issued a statement honoring Parton.
“The Heavenly Father has made the decision to bring another of his children to him,” she said.
“Dolly, a true child of God, is in the best hands now. Resting in peace,” Warwick continued.
“I will certainly miss her laughter, jokes and her being. Rest well and in total peace my friend. Sincere heartfelt condolences to Danny, family and those who knew her,” she added before concluding, “My heart is heavy.”
‘Like Two Friends Meeting for Lunch’
Even though both Warwick and Parton had been mainstays on the music scene for decades, they hadn’t met each other until they filmed the music video for their single “Peace Like a River” (for which they’d recorded their parts separately).
Speaking with Billboard, Warwick recalled the two hitting it off instantly.
“Well, it was more laughter than anything else,” Warwick said of meeting Parton. “We had a wonderful, wonderful meeting. It was as if we’d known each other for years.”
Looking back, she remembered being bowled over by Parton’s infectious sense of humor.
“We were there to take care of our business, but along with that, we found time to not only smile but outright laugh,” Warwick recalled.
“Dolly is very, very grounded — which I was thrilled about — but she’s also very business, which I happen to be about as well,” Warwick added. “So, it felt like two peas in a pod. It wasn’t like we were working at all. It was more like two friends meeting for lunch.”
Parton Was ‘Testifying’
GettyAfter Parton wrote “Peace Like a River,” she sent the demo to Warwick’s son/manager Damon Elliott in the hope that Warwick would record it with her.
As soon as Warwick heard the song, and its evocative faith-driven lyrics, she was sold.
“She asked if I’d like to do it as a duet. She’s testifying on this song, which she knows how to do,” Warwick said, referencing Parton’s fiery vocals.
“She felt that I was her voice of choice to do this with. She feels that the world needs it, as I do, and she said, ‘We’ve got a hit song.’ It’s so beautifully written. [These are] beautiful words to sing and I’m truly honored that she asked me to record it,” Warwick shared.
“I was honored to get to sing with one of my idols, Dionne Warwick,” Parton said in a statement. “I have loved her since we were younger and getting to sing with her was one of the highlights of my career. I loved that she loved my song, and I loved singing it with her.”
