Dolly Parton insisted she 'wasn't finished' in heartbreaking final phone call

Dolly Parton insisted she wasn't "finished" working in a heartbreaking final phone call with her friend Lainey Wilson.

The country music legend died on Tuesday (25.08.26) aged 80 after a secret battle with cancer and now her pal Lainey has revealed the pair spoke for the last time just weeks before Dolly's death and the superstar offered advice on her career as well as her marriage to Devlin 'Duck' Hodges.

In a post on Instagram, Lainey shared a picture of the women together and wrote: "My Dolly. I felt like you were my friend before we even met ... You made everybody feel that way.

"But once we became friends, boy did we have a lot to talk about … I sure am glad you called a couple of weeks ago. We got to talk about the business, the sacrifice, how special [Dolly's late husband] Carl Dean was to you and how important Duck is to me ...

"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'.

"You also told me to take my time reading the book of Revelation and that I might need to go on back to Psalms for a minute to catch my breath. "

Lainey went on to explain Dolly felt as if she had more to achieve, adding: "We talked about how we both feel like we were called into this business and you told me you felt like you weren’t finished.

"Well my friend, you are not. The kind of love and light you shined in your lifetime is the kind that never goes away. I am thankful the Lord gave you a gift, you decided to share it, and the Lord decided to share you with us.

"I can’t wait to see you again and I know when I hug your neck in heaven someday you are still gonna be saying: 'Don’t mess up hair, Lainey girl.'

Lainey has previously expressed her admiration for Dolly and admitted she fulfilled a lifelong dream when they hit the studio together.

Speaking at a BMI conference, Lainey said: "I think all of y’all probably know how important Dolly is to me and my journey and how important she is to so many people.

"She has definitely been somebody that I look up to when I think about like is can I do this? Can I not? Should I do this? Should I not? Should I say this should I not? She somehow always does it with grace ...

"I got to spend time with her in the studio and just having her coach me up and just the banter that me and her have been able to have with each other, I feel like I’ve known her from another lifetime."