Newlywed Lainey Wilson Shares the Marriage Lesson Dolly Parton Gave Her Before Her Death
Just weeks before her death, Dolly Parton gave newlywed Lainey Wilson a piece of marriage advice that Wilson says she will carry with her for the rest of her life.
Parton called Wilson a couple of weeks before she died, and their conversation covered everything from the music business and the Bible to marriage. For Wilson, the phone call became an especially precious memory after Parton died on August 25, 2026.
Wilson initially struggled to find the words to express her grief. Shortly after Parton’s death, she shared a photo of the two women embracing on her Instagram Story without a caption.
A couple of days later, on August 27, Wilson returned to Instagram with a much longer tribute. Along with several photos of herself and Parton together over the years, she shared clips from some of their musical collaborations and opened up about the final conversation she had with the country legend.
Lainey Wilson Remembers Her Final Conversation With Dolly Parton
Wilson began her tribute by describing the connection she felt with Parton even before they had met.
“My Dolly…I felt like you were my friend before we even met.. you made everybody feel that way.”
Once they became friends, Wilson said, they always had plenty to talk about.
That made their final phone conversation especially meaningful. Parton had called Wilson only a couple of weeks before her death, giving the two friends one last opportunity to catch up.
Their conversation touched on the music industry, faith and the Bible. Parton even offered Wilson some advice about how she approached reading the Book of Revelation.
Wilson recalled Parton telling her to take her time with Revelation and suggesting that she might want to return to Psalms for a while “to catch my breath.”
But one of the most memorable parts of their conversation centered on Wilson’s marriage.
Dolly Parton’s Advice About Marriage
Wilson married Devlin “Duck” Hodges on May 10, 2026, making her a newlywed when she received Parton’s call.
Parton had decades of marriage experience herself. She was married to Carl Dean for nearly 59 years before his death in March 2025.
During their conversation, Parton offered Wilson a simple reminder about what it means to build a life with someone.
Wilson recalled her words:
“…you told me that ‘it’s all great and stuff that Duck lets you be you, but you better make sure you let Duck be himself too.’”
For Wilson, the advice captured something important about marriage: giving your partner the same freedom and individuality you want for yourself.
The words also carried extra weight because they came from Parton, who had spent nearly six decades married to Dean.
Wilson’s tribute made clear how much the conversation meant to her. She thanked Parton for the “love and light” she brought into the world and expressed gratitude that she believed the Lord had given Parton a gift that she generously shared with everyone around her.
She ended her message with an emotional farewell:
“I can’t wait to see you again.”
Wilson then imagined meeting Parton again in heaven, joking that Parton would still be reminding her not to mess up her hair.
“I will always love you, my friend.”
Wilson and Parton Shared Several Musical Moments
The friendship between Wilson and Parton also extended to the stage and recording studio.
The two previously collaborated on “Mama He’s Crazy,” a song associated with The Judds tribute project. Wilson has also joined Parton on a new version of “Light of a Clear Blue Morning,” alongside Reba McEntire, Miley Cyrus and Queen Latifah.
The 2026 recording was released in January to celebrate Parton’s 80th birthday.
Wilson’s connection with Parton was clearly meaningful long before their final phone call. In earlier comments about Parton, Wilson had described their relationship as one that felt remarkably familiar, saying she felt as though she had known the country icon for much longer than she actually had.
That sense of closeness made Wilson’s memories of Parton after her death all the more personal.
Lainey Wilson and Dolly Parton Once Sang “I Will Always Love You”
Their collaborations went beyond “Light of a Clear Blue Morning.”
In 2024, Parton hosted the “Pet Gala” television special on CBS, a program featuring fashionable pets and musical performances from artists including Carly Pearce and Chris Janson.
During the special, Wilson joined Parton onstage for a duet of “I Will Always Love You.”
The performance gave Wilson the opportunity to sing one of Parton’s most enduring songs alongside the woman who wrote it.
Parton had previously recorded an official duet of “I Will Always Love You” with Vince Gill in 1995. The song remained an important part of Parton’s musical legacy, and in 2026, Wilson reunited with Gill onstage at the Grand Ole Opry to perform it in honor of Parton’s 80th birthday.
That performance now carries a different emotional weight following Parton’s death.
For Wilson and Gill, singing the song was already a tribute to an iconic artist. With Parton gone, the performance also stands as a reminder of the music and memories she left behind.
A Lasting Friendship and Legacy
Wilson’s final conversation with Parton gave her more than a farewell. It left her with advice about marriage, thoughts about faith and one more reminder of the warmth that had defined their friendship.
Parton’s influence on Wilson can also be heard through the music they made together, from “Mama He’s Crazy” to “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” and their performance of “I Will Always Love You.”
Now, Wilson is among the artists who can help keep those songs and memories alive.
Her tribute to Parton ultimately reflected the depth of their relationship. What began as admiration for a country music legend became a genuine friendship, complete with long conversations, shared music and personal advice.
And among all the memories Wilson has of Dolly Parton, one of the most meaningful may be the words Parton shared during that final phone call: make room for the person you love to be completely themselves, too.
