Dolly Parton ‘Torn’ Duet With Bono Released In Rock And Country Versions; Broadway’s Megan Hilty Will Perform Parton Tribute At Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade

Dolly Parton‘s final recorded vocal performance – a duet with U2 singer Bono on the band’s single “Torn” – was released today, giving fans around the world a final chance to hear new music from the beloved country icon.

The song is included on U2’s 16th studio album Carnaval de Luz released today by Island Records. The album version of the track, produced by Jacknife Lee, was released today, while a country version of the song, produced by Kent Wells, debuted on country radio networks yesterday.

Watch and listen to both versions below.

Co-written by U2, Parton and Irish singer-songwriter Johnny McDaid, “Torn” is described on Parton’s website as “a tender country song detailing broken family ties that holds wider resonances.”

“Parton recorded the song in Nashville, Tennessee in June this year,” the site notes, “making it her final recorded vocal performance prior to her passing on August 25, 2026.” The track features Daniel Lanois, who has worked with U2 on such albums as The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby, as well as collaborating with Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris and Willie Nelson, among others, playing pedal steel.

The country version of the song was released exclusively yesterday to Country Radio World Premiere via iHeart, Cumulus, Audacy, Beasley, Summit, Townsquare, and SiriusXM The Highway, Prime Country, and Y2Country, as well as the Music Choice platform. That version is being represented, serviced, and promoted by Parton’s most recent label partner, Big Machine Records.

The song’s lyrics begin with Parton singing, “I can’t deny this passion and desire/but I know it has to burn me standing this close to the fire.” She continues, “What am I supposed to do? And how am I supposed to choose? I love ‘em both and I just feel so torn.”

After Bono takes a verse, the two duet on a chorus that says, “Torn apart these loving hearts that beat and break the same,” ending with “Every heart is torn.”

Parton told fans of the duet last June, when she posted a note to Bono on her Instagram page. “Hope you like what I did,” she wrote on June 2 (see the post below). “I did quite a few things. Take from it what you want and what you need, but I love the song, and I think it could be something really special. Thanks for including me in your life. I’ve always loved you and always will.”

In a recent Rolling Stone interview, Bono said, ”When she got ill, she got out of her bed to sing this song. And you can hear that. And I can’t even listen to it now.”

In a Today show interview this morning, Bono said he initially offered Parton a song called “Lifelong,” but Parton said, “That’s a little too Irish for me. Just for where my voice is right now.”

“And then,” Bono continued, she said, “‘You know I got a song called Torn. You can take it wherever you want, and maybe I’ll like where you take it.’ I think it’s probably the right song to finish ‘Carnaval de Luz.’”

Also today, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade announced that this year’s event will include a tribute to Parton performed by Broadway’s Megan Hilty, who appeared in the 2009 musical stage version of 9 to 5. Hilty played the role of Doralee Rhodes in the production (with a score by Parton), the same role Parton played in the 1980 film.

Hilty is currently appearing on Broadway in It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.

The 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade airs on NBC and Peacock Thursday, November 26, starting at 8:30 a.m. in all time zones. Today’s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker will host.