NEED TO KNOW
- Dolly Parton died aged 80 following a short battle with cancer.
- Her passing was confirmed on August 25 (August 26 AEST).
- Keith Urban and Dolly Parton performed together several times over the years, and also recorded a duet together.
Nicole Kidman has extended a peace offering to Keith Urban, following the news of Dolly Parton’s death.
The late country singer-songwriter died aged 80 on August 25 (August 26 AEST), following a short battle with cancer.
Since then, celebrities have shared their tributes for the Grammy winner, including Nicole, who shared a rare family photo on her Instagram story with her now ex-husband and their daughters, Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret, posing with the singer.
At the bottom of the photo, she said, “We will always love you, Dolly”, in reference to her legendary song, I Will Always Love You.
“Nicole knows how much she meant to Keith,” a source exclusively tells New Idea.
“It’s only natural for her to reach out and extend an olive branch – she’s genuinely worried for him. Dolly meant the world to them as a family, and she and the girls have a natural urge to grieve alongside him.”
Throughout his career, Keith had the privilege of performing with her several times, and they even recorded a duet of The Twelfth of Never for her 2005 album, Those Were The Days.
Before her passing, she praised the country artist for his songwriting abilities, and said he reminded her of her family.
The insider continues to say that Dolly was close to the country singer’s heart, and “Nicole doesn’t want him to go through that alone”.
The Grammy winner was also incredibly close to their daughters.
“Dolly was like an aunt to Sunday and Faith – she was part of the Nashville family,” the source says. “But as much as Nicole and the girls adored her, Dolly was only there because of her respect and admiration for Keith.”
Nicole’s decision to share the rare family photo, taken in 2023 at the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala, comes almost a year after the couple announced their split.
The couple then finalised their divorce in Nashville in January 2026.
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