Dolly Parton’s U2 duet ‘Torn’ gets country version, November 12 radio premiere

Promotional artwork: Courtesy of Island Records/Big Machine Label Group, via The Music Universe.

Dolly Parton’s duet with U2’s Bono will reach country radio in a version co-produced by Kent Wells. Parton’s official website announced on November 10, 2026, that “Torn” (Kent Wells Version) will receive an all-day country-radio world premiere on Thursday, November 12. The announcement adds a country-radio presentation to the forthcoming collaboration, ahead of the album track’s November 13 release.

Organizers named iHeart, Cumulus, Audacy, Beasley, Summit and Townsquare among the broadcast companies participating in the premiere. They also listed SiriusXM’s The Highway, Prime Country and Y2Country channels, along with Music Choice. Big Machine Records, Parton’s most recent label partner, will service and promote the Kent Wells Version. The announcement gives an all-day premiere window rather than a single broadcast time.

The official credits identify Jacknife Lee as producer and Wells as co-producer of the country version. Wells also produced Parton’s vocals, which Joel McKenney engineered. Chris Lord-Alge mixed the recording at Mix L.A. in Tarzana, California, and Ted Jensen mastered it at Sterling Sound in Nashville. The credits list Blackbird Studios in Nashville as the recording location and Scott Borchetta as executive producer.

Parton and Bono handle the duet vocals, with The Edge contributing vocals and guitar. U2’s Adam Clayton plays bass and Larry Mullen Jr. plays drums. The country-version credits also name Wells on acoustic guitar, Derek Wells on additional electric guitar and Scotty Sanders on steel guitar. Daniel Lanois contributes pedal steel, while Dane Bryant plays keyboards and Nir Z. adds drums and percussion.

Parton, U2 and Johnny McDaid share the music-writing credits; Parton, Bono and McDaid share the lyric credits. The song addresses fractured family relationships, including estrangement between brothers and the pain that conflict causes a mother. “Torn” will close U2’s 16th studio album, Carnaval De Luz, which Island Records will release on November 13, 2026. Parton recorded her vocal in Nashville in June 2026. Her official website describes it as her final recorded vocal performance.

Sources: Dolly Parton official website: U2 & Dolly Parton, Torn, world premiere announcement | The Music Universe: U2, Dolly Parton announce Torn country version | AntiMusic: Dolly Parton’s Final Recording Set For Release By U2
Image: Promotional artwork: Courtesy of Island Records/Big Machine Label Group, via The Music Universe.