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Bono: Dolly Parton hid illness at final recording

U2 frontman Bono has said Dolly Parton appeared not to realise how seriously ill she was when she laid down her final vocal.

The country legend passed away in August at 80 after what was described as a short fight with cancer.

Speaking on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday, Bono looked back on the Nashville session in June where Parton recorded Torn for the band's new record Carnaval de Luz. He called her a mythical figure and said she seemed in good form at the time.

He described the session as a masterclass, noting that people tend to forget the breadth of her range. In his words, she carried herself somewhere else on the song. He added that they were told she had no idea how ill she was, and that the track feels like her last prayer – one aimed at America, but also at any place where politics has split people apart.

The Edge, whose real name is David Evans, said Parton threw herself fully into the duet. He explained that she was ready to trust the band with her musical future, since they were heading into something closer to sci-fi country, and that she was enthusiastic and game for it.

Bono also remembered offering her a folk-leaning number called Life Long. The Jolene singer felt it was too Irish for her taste and proposed Torn instead. Johnny McDaid is credited as a co-writer on the track.

With a laugh, Bono noted the unspoken message behind her choice: if she didn't like the direction they took, the song would never come out.

Carnaval de Luz, U2's sixteenth studio album, arrived on Friday.

Photo: Cover Media
Source: Muzland
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