Stevie Nicks only needed a few days with Dolly Parton to come away with a few unforgettable lessons.
Following Parton’s death the day before, Nicks shared an emotional Instagram tribute on Wednesday, August 26, alongside a photo of the two music icons together. Parton wore a red plaid shirt embellished with colorful floral appliqués, while Nicks stood beside her dressed in black.
The Fleetwood Mac singer followed the photo with handwritten pages containing her message and a short song for her late friend. “I spent a week with Dolly in Nashville to record one of my songs with her for her ‘Rock Star’ album,” Nicks began. “Best week ever.”
Nicks described the experience as “like a master class,” explaining that she approached her time with Parton as an opportunity to absorb as much as possible. “I tried to be a sponge ~ and learn everything I could learn from her ~ in a very few days,” she wrote. “Learning from her was easy because she was a really good teacher.”
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Their collaboration, “What Has Rock and Roll Ever Done to Me,” actually had roots stretching back decades. Parton previously told The Hollywood Reporter in 2023 that Nicks had originally written the song during her Fleetwood Mac years, but it never made one of the band’s albums. Nicks brought the track to Parton for her Rockstar album, and the two also spent their time in Nashville swapping stories about their careers and backgrounds.
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In her new tribute, Nicks remembered watching Parton embrace an entirely different musical world while assembling the album. “She said she could become a rock star ~ and I watched her do it,” Nicks wrote.
Fans ran to the comments to share their thoughts.
“The fact that Stevie takes the time to physically PEN THIS TO PAPER makes her mysticism and ethereal presence so much more elusive. We LOVE YOU,” one wrote.
“This kind of sisterhood in music means more than I can put into words. To see two women who have given so much to music hold so much genuine love and admiration for one another is incredibly beautiful. We need more of this 🤍,” a second said.
Others seemed particularly emotional after losing two entertainment icons in the same day. With Parton’s death coming the same day as acting legend Tim Curry’s, several fans urged the 78-year-old Nicks to take extra care of herself.
“wrap urself with bubble wrap please,” one person pleaded.
“Stevie plz stay safe we can’t lose you ok,” another added.
Nicks concluded her tribute with a handwritten farewell that turned into a song of its own, telling Parton to carry her music “Right up to heaven.”
“Dolly, how we’ll miss you / There’ll never be another you ~ / And I will always love you,” she wrote.
Parton’s death was announced by her nephew on August 25, following months of health concerns. She was 80.
Related: Dolly Parton’s Final Instagram Post Honored a Special Moment With Kenny Rogers