U2 Releases Dolly Parton’s Final Recorded Vocal

U2 released “Torn,” a duet with Dolly Parton, as the closing track on Carnaval de Luz, the band’s first album of new material in nine years. The song was Parton’s final recorded vocal performance; she recorded it in Nashville in June, co-wrote it with U2 and Johnny McDaid, and approved the final mix before she died of cancer at 80 on August 25. Bono and McDaid reshaped her original idea into a portrait of a family divided by conflicting beliefs, a theme Bono said also speaks to political divisions and the need to find common ground. U2 gave the song an atmospheric “sci-fi country” arrangement, and a more traditional country version was also released. Bono and The Edge described the collaboration as deeply moving and praised Parton’s performance.