Dolly Parton’s final recorded vocal performance, a tender country duet with Bono titled “Torn,” is set to make its exclusive worldwide radio debut on Thursday, November 12, ahead of its official release on U2’s upcoming 16th studio album, Carnaval De Luz.
Co-written by U2, Dolly Parton, and Johnny McDaid, the song explores the painful theme of broken family ties and fractured relationships. Parton recorded her vocals in Nashville, Tennessee in June, marking her final studio recording before her death on August 25, 2026.
Produced by Jacknife Lee, the track features legendary musician Daniel Lanois playing pedal steel guitar. The broader album, Carnaval De Luz, is scheduled for release on Friday, November 13, through Island Records.
Before the full album drops, a dedicated Country Version titled “Torn” (Kent Wells Version) will receive an exclusive Country Radio World Premiere airing throughout Thursday, November 12. The rollout spans major broadcast networks including iHeart, Cumulus, Audacy, Beasley, Summit, Townsquare, and SiriusXM channels such as The Highway, Prime Country, and Y2Country, alongside the Music Choice platform.
Dolly’s most recent label partner, Big Machine Records, will represent, service, and promote the Kent Wells version of the track. The single was co-produced by Kent Wells and executive produced by Scott Borchetta.
The recording sessions brought together a notable lineup of musicians at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, featuring tracking engineer Joel McKenney, mixing by Chris Lord-Alge at Mix L.A. in Tarzana, California, and mastering by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in Nashville.
The lyrics of the collaboration lean heavily into the emotional weight of familial conflict and difficult choices:
“I can’t deny this passion and desire
But I know it has to burn me
Standing this close to the fire
What am I supposed to do?
And how am I supposed to choose?
I love ‘em both and I just feel so torn”
Subsequent verses address broader themes of estrangement, with lines reflecting on family members turning into strangers and the deep sorrow of a household divided:
“Nothing hurts a mother more
Than a family at war
Torn apart these loving hearts
That beat and break the same
We share a house divided
And the blood that fills our veins”
The track features vocals from Dolly Parton, Bono, and The Edge, with The Edge also contributing guitar. Adam Clayton handles bass guitar, and Larry Mullen Jr. plays drums. Additional instrumentation includes keyboards and programming by Jacknife Lee, acoustic guitar by Kent Wells, additional electric guitar by Derek Wells, steel guitar by Scotty Sanders, additional percussion by Nir Z., additional bass by Glenn Worfe, and keyboards by Dane Bryant.
The single arrives on streaming platforms and digital retailers on Friday, November 13, following the conclusion of Thursday’s multi-network radio premiere event.
