Tanya Tucker has spent decades around some of country music’s biggest legends, but one brief piece of advice from Dolly Parton has stayed with her. Looking back on their final exchange, Tucker remembered Parton encouraging her to keep making the most of every opportunity that came her way.
According to Taste of Country, the moment happened around the 2019 CMA Awards, when both singers joined an all-female opening number alongside stars including Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, and Martina McBride. Tanya Tucker recalled that she was not feeling her best during rehearsals when Parton offered a simple reminder: “You got to make hay while the sun shines.” Tucker now believes those were the last words Parton ever said to her.
Dolly Parton’s Final Advice to Tanya Tucker
Tucker said the exchange reflected the way Parton approached her own career. Even after stepping away from touring, Parton continued working on music, business ventures, and other creative projects. Tucker’s memory of that advice has taken on added meaning since Parton’s death on Aug. 25 at age 80.
The two women were never especially close friends, but their paths crossed several times over the years. One of their most memorable collaborations came in 1993 on “Romeo,” a Parton-led recording that also featured Billy Ray Cyrus, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Pam Tillis, and Kathy Mattea.
She Still Remembers Recording “Romeo” With Dolly
Tucker admitted she was nervous before recording “Romeo” and even drove around the studio before calling Parton to say she was unsure about her voice. Parton encouraged her to come inside, assuring her they could leave the performance off if she disliked it. Tucker ultimately recorded the song, remembering the session as playful and supportive—an experience that changed how she viewed Parton as an artist.
Over time, Tanya Tucker said Parton became the kind of performer and person she wanted to emulate. Earlier in life, Tucker had looked mostly to male artists such as Elvis Presley and Merle Haggard for inspiration, but Parton’s work ethic, generosity, and ability to connect with people shifted that perspective. That makes their final exchange feel especially fitting. Parton’s advice was brief, practical, and unmistakably in character: keep going while the opportunity is there. For Tanya Tucker, those words now carry the weight of both a career lesson and a final memory of one of country music’s most influential figures.