U2’s new album features a duet between Bono and Dolly Parton.
The Irish rocker and the late country music star sing together on Torn, a song about broken family ties.
The country music track, which appears on U2’s 16th album, Carnaval De Luz, was co-written by the band, Parton and Snow Patrol star Johnny McDaid.
Bono told Rolling Stone that the song was recorded in June, just two months before Parton died on 25 August at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer.
“When she got ill, she got out of her bed to sing this song. And you can hear that,” he told the outlet. “And I can’t even listen to it now.”
The Irish star said that he’d tried to get Parton to collaborate with him on a different side project that was inspired by Irish folk music, but she felt it was “a little too Irish” for her taste.
Instead, she offered her song Torn, and asked if he’d be willing to listen and take it where he wanted. Bono reworked the lyrics with Snow Patrol musician Johnny McDaid, and Parton agreed to sing.
“She sang her heart out, and I cannot believe that’s an 80-year-old woman,” he said.
Garret ‘Jacknife’ Lee, who produced U2’s new album, told Rolling Stone that Parton loved the song and was able to approve the final mix before she died.
“She was so proud of her vocal and the recording. She was thrilled with it,” he shared. “We were very nervous that she might not approve, or would be uncomfortable with it, but she loved it.”
Bono and Parton have long been friends. When she turned 80 in January, Parton shared a video on Facebook of the band surprising her with a birthday cake and bagpipe players.
“Now that’s what you call a surprise! This old bag sure feels the love!” she quipped. “Thank you, Bono and U2 for making my birthday extra special.”
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