Brad Paisley Honors Dolly Parton Through Their Shared Song

Paisley recalled the origins of their collaboration, noting that when he first sent the track to Parton, he questioned whether its themes of loss would resonate with her. She immediately agreed to lend her voice to the project, finding a personal connection to the lyrics that Paisley now sees in a new light. "I never thought it would be about her, but it is," he told the crowd in Bridgeport, Connecticut, during his August 27 concert. The performance included an on-screen tribute featuring photographs of the two longtime friends, ending with a simple message: "We Love You, Dolly."

His wife, actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, also shared a glimpse of what she called the "Dolly effect." Recalling their time filming for the Netflix series "Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings," she described a day plagued by torrential rain and wind. While the production crew struggled against the storm, Parton arrived on set seemingly untouched by the chaos. "She glided across the stage, looking gorgeous and prepared as always, with not one hair out of place," Williams-Paisley wrote. Parton passed away on August 25 following a brief battle with cancer, a diagnosis she had largely kept private while continuing to manage her professional commitments and public appearances.