Lainey Wilson Recalls Final Call With Dolly Parton in Touching Tribute
Lainey Wilson is paying tribute to Dolly Parton with a heartfelt social media post.
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The country singer, 34, honored her music idol by sharing details of her final call with Parton via an Instagram post shared on Thursday, August 27.
“My Dolly. 💛 I felt like you were my friend before we even met.. you made everybody feel that way. But once we became friends, boy did we have a lot to talk about… I sure am glad you called a couple of weeks ago,” she wrote alongside a carousel of photos and video moments of the pair together.
During the conversation, Parton offered Wilson words of wisdom about Wilson’s relationship with former NFL player Devlin “Duck” Hodges.
“We got to talk about the business, the sacrifice, how special Carl Dean was to you and how important Duck is to me.. you told me that ‘it’s all great and stuff that Duck lets you be you, but you better make sure you let Duck be himself too.'”
The “Heart Like a Truck” singer recalled that the pair also spoke about faith, the music business and ambition during the interaction.
“You also told me to take my time reading the book of Revelation and that I might need to go on back to Psalms for a minute to catch my breath,” Wilson wrote. “We talked about how we both feel like we were called into this business and you told me you felt like you weren’t finished. Well my friend, you are not. The kind of love and light you shined in your lifetime is the kind that never goes away. I am thankful the Lord gave you a gift, you decided to share it, and the Lord decided to share you with us. I can’t wait to see you again and I know when I hug your neck in heaven someday you are still gonna be saying, ‘don’t mess up hair, Lainey girl.’ I will always love you, my friend. 💛🦋.”
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News broke on Tuesday, August 25, that Parton died after a brief battle with an undisclosed form of cancer. She was 80.
Parton’s rep shared that a “small, private service will be held for immediate family” in the coming days to honor the late singer.
Meanwhile, her “fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly” on social media and her website, per the singer’s request. The family asked for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in lieu of flowers.
“Global icon and humanitarian, Dolly Parton, known to the world as a beloved singer, songwriter, philanthropist, actress, playwright and author died peacefully today in Nashville, Tennessee,” read a statement from Parton’s rep. “A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth and kindness that made us all feel like family.”
The statement continued: “Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.”
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This story was originally published August 27, 2026 at 11:40 PM.
