Parton, a national treasure and the undisputed “Queen of Country Music,” passed away yesterday (Aug. 25) in Nashville after a brief battle with cancer. She was 80.
Now Ronstadt, retired since 2011 due to progressive supranuclear palsy, a neurodegenerative condition that left her unable to sing, is remembering her Trio bandmate.
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of my friend, Dolly Parton,” the 80-year-old wrote alongside a candid snapshot of her, Parton, and fellow Trio member Emmylou Harris. “One of the most extraordinary musical experiences of my life was recording with her.”
“The world is a poorer place without her,” Ronstadt concluded.
Parton, Ronstadt, and Harris recorded the original Trio album back in 1987. A sequel, TrioII, dropped a dozen years later. In 2016, The Complete Trio Collection was also released, highlighting the singers’ three-part harmonies.
Of course, Ronstadt’s post was filled with comments from mourning fellow musicians.
“My heroes… all three of you,” Sheryl Crow wrote. “Love those 3 women. Have known them all my life,” Roy Orbison Jr added.
Fans also weighed in on Ronstadt’s tribute.
“I’m listening to the complete trio right now … 🤍. Thank you for sharing this photo,” one fan wrote. “How lucky we were to have known just a tiny fraction of the light that is Dolly🩵,” another thoughtful fan added.
“Please take good care, Linda. Thank you to you, Dolly, and Emmy Lou,” a third fan wrote.
Meanwhile, it took some time before Parton, Ronstadt, and Harris recorded Trio after the three first performed together. In a 1976 episode of Parton’s syndicated show, Dolly, the trio performed “Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow” by the Carter Family and “The Sweetest Gift.”