Picture this: two queens of country music, Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton, legends in their own right, never once sharing a mic—until 2021, when they dropped a bombshell cover of “Does He Love You.” Yeah, that “Does He Love You”—the 1993 tearjerker originally sung by McEntire and Linda Davis about a wife and mistress locked in a lyrical showdown over a man’s heart. Written by Sandy Knox and Billy Stritch, it’s raw, it’s messy, and now, with Parton’s honeyed wail crashing into McEntire’s soul-stirring belt, it’s downright explosive.
This wasn’t just a song—it was a seismic event. Tucked into McEntire’s 2021 triple-threat album *Revived Remixed Revisited*, their version stormed the Top 50 of Billboard’s Country Airplay Chart, proving the fans were starving for this long-overdue collab. “It turned out really good,” Parton grinned on *Watch What Happens Live* with Andy Cohen, her signature sparkle barely hiding her shock. “I’ve always wanted to sing with her, and I don’t know why it took us this long. We sounded like we were meant to do it.”
Meant to, maybe, but never done before? Wild. “It’s amazing we’ve never sung together,” McEntire mused. “I’ve sung *for* her, she’s sung *for* me, but a duet? Never. Kinda weird, right?” Weird, sure, but worth the wait. Their voices tangle like old friends—or maybe frenemies—in a tale of love, rivalry, and heartbreak that hits harder than a steel guitar.
Then came the music video, and oh, it’s a scene. Picture them in a smoky club, drinks in hand, staring each other down across a table like they’re about to throw punches—or at least a few choice words. They trade verses, tension thick enough to cut, before storming the stage for a finale that’ll leave you gut-punched. “My favorite part?” McEntire said. “Hanging with Dolly between takes. Singing with her was second—second!—because just sitting there, gossiping like girlfriends, was a riot. And the acting? We start off hating each other, then by the end, it’s like, ‘Take him, honey, I’m done.’ So much fun.”
Parton, ever the pro, brought her wit and warmth, leaving McEntire smitten. “I could listen to her talk all day,” she confessed. “She’s hilarious, sharp, and a total pro. We even talked about doing more together—I hope it happens, because I’m hooked.”
Could we get Parton popping up on McEntire’s new sitcom *Happy’s Place*? A girl can dream. For now, their “Does He Love You” duet is a historic jolt of country magic—raw, real, and dripping with the kind of chemistry that only comes once in a lifetime. Dive into it below and brace yourself.
