U2 say Dolly Parton’s duet on new album was her final recording

U2 say Dolly Parton’s contribution to their new album is the country singer’s final recording. She recorded vocals for the song “Torn” in June, less than three months before her death, the band told the BBC.

The track features on *Carnaval de Luz*, an album the band describe as a companion to their two 2026 EPs, *Days of Ash* and *Easter Lily*. U2 reworked Parton’s original lyrics, about a woman choosing between two men, into a song about political divisions separating families, with help from Snow Patrol’s Jonny McDaid.

“We knew she was ill, but we had no idea that it’d be her last vocal,” Bono said. He recalled being shocked when news of her death came through.

Parton agreed to hear Bono’s demos after he sent her a set of bagpipes for her birthday. One early song, “Lifelong”, was “a little too Irish for me”, Bono recalled her saying. She then offered U2 “Torn”, telling them they could take it where they wanted.

The band’s new album turns away from the darker themes of the two earlier EPs. Bassist Adam Clayton said U2 wanted to make the point that they did not want their joy “robbed”, while Bono described the album’s outlook as “defiant joy”.

U2 also told the BBC that making the record was far from straightforward. Producer Jacknife Lee said the song “The Mirror Maker” went through 196 takes. Bono called the band’s persistence “a grudge match”.

The release brings the group’s total to 24 songs in 2026, which the BBC describes as the most prolific year of their career. Parton’s final recording comes after a separate posthumous release, a Welsh-language version of “Jolene” that she recorded with Welsh singer-songwriter Bronwen Lewis and her niece, Jada Star.