Overview
- U2 released Carnaval De Luz on Nov. 13, 2026, and its closing track “Torn” features what the band and Parton’s estate confirm is Dolly Parton’s last recorded vocal.
- Parton recorded her vocals in Nashville in June 2026 while ill, and her estate shared a personal June letter in which she expressed affection for the song and gave her approval for its use.
- “Torn” was co-written by U2, Dolly Parton and Johnny McDaid and was reworked by Bono and collaborators from Parton’s original treatment into a song about a family divided by political differences.
- The release includes multiple treatments of the song, notably a Kent Wells country version and a T Bone Burnett treatment, with production contributions credited to Daniel Lanois, Garret “Jacknife” Lee and drummer Larry Mullen Jr.
- Beyond the immediate release, coverage notes this late-career collaboration shapes Parton’s legacy as a genre-crossing artist and that an unheard recording reportedly remains archived for future release.