In 2021, country music fans witnessed a long-awaited moment of magic when Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton finally united their iconic voices in a duet. For years, audiences had dreamed of the day these two country legends would share the mic. Despite their monumental careers and numerous contributions to the genre, they had never recorded a song together—until they chose to breathe new life into a beloved classic.
Their collaboration was a reimagined version of Does He Love You, a dramatic ballad first recorded by McEntire and Linda Davis in 1993. The song, penned by Sandy Knox and Billy Stritch, explores the emotional tension between two women involved with the same man—one his wife, the other his mistress. With McEntire and Parton at the helm, the track gained fresh emotional weight and a richness only decades of experience could bring.
The new rendition featured on McEntire’s 2021 three-disc project Revived Remixed Revisited and quickly made waves, even landing on Billboard’s Country Airplay Chart. Fans embraced it instantly, praising the authenticity and power behind the duet.
Dolly Parton expressed her joy in an interview with Andy Cohen, admitting she had always hoped to sing with McEntire and couldn’t believe it had taken so long. Their voices, as many would agree, blended effortlessly. Reba also shared her surprise at how the stars had never aligned before for a recording, despite their years of mutual respect and admiration.
The duet was paired with a compelling music video that added depth to the already emotional song. Set in a dimly lit club, it followed both women sitting at a table, sharing glances filled with suspicion and pain. By the end, they took the stage together in a powerful and cathartic conclusion that redefined the original’s drama.
For McEntire, the experience went beyond music. She cherished the downtime between takes just as much as the performance. “Singing with her was wonderful,” she said, “but what I loved most was just chatting, sharing stories, laughing between scenes. By the time we were done, we were like, ‘You can keep the guy—we’re done with him!’”
There may be more to come. Reba hinted at the possibility of future collaborations, saying they’d talked about doing more together. “She’s sharp, funny, full of life,” McEntire added. “You just want to be around her.”
Whether it’s another powerful duet or something entirely unexpected, fans are already waiting for whatever these two legends decide to create next.