Return to Transcripts main page

Erin Burnett Outfront

Dolly Parton Dies At 80 Years Old; Now: New Results In South Carolina Runoff To Replace Sen. Lindsey Graham. Aired 7-8p ET

Aired August 25, 2026 - 19:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[19:00:24]

ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: OUTFRONT next:

The queen of country, music fans of all ages around the world mourning the loss of Dolly Parton. From music to movies, she did everything. One of her former costars is our guest.

And country legend Randy Travis will speak out on losing his dear friend. He joins us this hour.

Also breaking right now, polls are just closing in a crucial special election, one that is testing the power of Trump. Can he get his handpicked candidate, Darline Graham, Lindsey's sister, across the finish line?

Let's go OUTFRONT.

(MUSIC)

BURNETT: And good evening. I'm Erin Burnett.

And OUTFRONT tonight we begin with breaking news. The world loses a legend. Dolly Parton, whose career spanned seven decades, has died at the age of 80. Her nephew, in a video posting this afternoon saying that Parton died peacefully.

At the White House, flags were lowered in honor of Dolly Parton, and we'll show some live pictures outside her home in Brentwood, Tennessee. A memorial there is growing.

And the Empire State Building in New York City is also going to be honoring Dolly Parton with pink sparkling lights fitting for a woman who just last week told people magazine, "It's not like I haven't been through hard times with my health. Seriously though, even though I'm still healin', I'm still workin'!"

So far, there has been given no formal cause of death. What her comment there, references to people. There had been concerns about Parton's health. Earlier this summer, she was forced to miss a new attraction at Dollywood, and weeks later she announced she was postponing all six of her concerts in Las Vegas.

But when Dolly Parton said she was still working, that's an understatement. I mean, she was one of the bestselling female country music artists of all time and still working at age 80 -- 49 studio albums, 25 number one singles, classics that have withstood the test of time.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC LEGEND DOLLY PARTON SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: That was 1973, and Parton has been credited with writing over 3,000 songs, including this song, which she released a year later. A thank you note to the man who gave Parton her first big break, Porter Wagoner.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(DOLLY PARTON SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: So, of course, Dolly Parton. You know, the country music star. She was also an actress. And that wasn't, you know, a secondary thing. She was a two-time Oscar nominee, first nominated in 1981 for her song in the classic film "Nine to Five". She also starred in the movie.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(DOLLY PARTON SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: And then there was "Steel Magnolias", which was another classic.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PARTON: Shelby, I wasn't expecting to see you here today. What can I do for you? I'm running a special. It's called a Christmas quickie.

SALLY FIELD, ACTRESS: Miss Truvy. I'm beyond help. Last week, I discovered the early stages of crow's feet.

PARTON: Honey, time marches on, and eventually you realize its marching across your face.

FIELD: Stop it!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: Her costar that you saw there next to her walking into the house, Sally Field, writes on Instagram, "If there are truly angels on earth, then we have just lost one. Dolly Parton. There will never be another."

And when Parton wasn't on a movie set or in a recording studio, she was making a powerful and lasting impact on children around the world.

And this is incredible. Her incredible dedication there, she did not have children. She had nieces and nephews she adored, and so many children that she took care of.

Her Imagination Library gifted over 300 million free books to kids.

[19:05:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PARTON: I think God knew I probably shouldn't have kids of my own, so everybody's kids could be mine, and I could help in all the ways that I can. So that -- that makes me feel real good. And it was based on the fact that a lot of my own relatives didn't get a chance to get an education.

LARRY KING, FORMER CNN HOST: You ever have a book had an impact on you?

PARTON: Yes, actually, the book that had the most impact on me is the book that we give out. The very first book in the Imagination Library. It's that wonderful little book that everybody knows called "The Little Engine That Could".

KING: All right.

PARTON: And I like to look at myself and think I am a little engine that did

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: Elizabeth Wagmeister joins us live from Dolly's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

And, Elizabeth, I mean, I can see all the flowers and, you know, it's just been a few hours here that the world has heard this news. But immediately people flooded to where you are.

ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. So I am here on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and as you said, Erin, there are tons of flowers behind me and notes from fans. I'm going to step out of the way so our crew can show you her star here on Hollywood Boulevard. But as you said, Erin, just tons of fans who have been flocking here in just the hours since her death has been announced.

And the thing about Dolly that is so unique is she was truly a unifying force. This is an American treasure. This is not just a global superstar. This is a true American icon, someone who could blend both the red and the blue states.

Dolly had fans everywhere, from NASCAR fans to drag queens. Okay, find me someone else who could have done that. Find me someone who you get post today from President Trump and from Mayor Zohran Mamdani. You just don't find that. And I think that that is what Dolly's legacy is going to be, that she was a unifying force. She spread kindness. Of course, she was a huge artist, as you said, not just a musician,

but also on screen. I mean, the woman wrote over 3,000 songs in her career. I mean, that is just unbelievable. But I do not believe that her legacy will just be her music. Even though, Erin, Dolly was the top selling female country artist of all time, I believe that her legacy is going to be her humanitarian work, her kindness.

She really was the best of us, and I think that is why you are seeing people today so sad. They feel like they lost a friend. Even though she was one of the most famous people on the planet, we all felt like Dolly was part of our extended family. And that is what her nephew said today when he posted that video with, you know, announcing her death. So even though she lived in incredible life in 80 years, that still feels too soon. And in many ways, it feels like Dolly Parton is immortal -- Erin.

BURNETT: Yeah, it's a really beautiful way of saying it. And of course, you know, I'll say it's funny, Elizabeth, I actually know of at least three people who wrote her name in to vote for her for president. They had different political persuasions. They didn't like what was on offer. It was Dolly Parton that they could all agree on.

So, to your point of who could unite people with such disparate points of view, there are so few. And perhaps that is something, you know, we can all mourn as well.

Elizabeth, thank you very much at Dolly's star.

I want to bring in now Greg Harris, president and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; Kevin Frazier, co-host of "Entertainment Tonight"; and Robin Meade, former colleague and of course, former news anchor who's familiar to anyone watching here tonight. Also a very -- she's a country star herself, collaborated with and interviewed Dolly Parton in her role as a performer and a journalist.

So, I'm so happy to have all of you here in these hours as we're digesting this.

Greg, you met Dolly when she was being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and she had initially resisted that honor, you know, saying to you that she didn't think shed earned the right to be called a rock and roll artist, which is, I think, stunning for anyone to even imagine that she would say that.

Can you tell us about that night?

GREG HARRIS, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME: Absolutely. You know, Dolly is a rock and roll hall of fame inductee. She went in in 2022. She was inducted into the country music hall of fame in 1999, and she's one of the rare artists that's in both halls of fame. In fact, there's only two female artists in the country music hall and the rock and roll hall of fame, and Dolly went in in Los Angeles in 2022, along with the eurythmics, along with Pat Benatar, along with, you know, all these great artists.

And at the induction itself, Dolly was the centerpiece. Everybody wanted to be around Dolly. Everybody wanted to see Dolly. And our finale was Dolly singing with Pink, singing with Rob Halford of Judas Priest and, singing, you know, with Zac Brown and all these others.

[19:10:03]

And again, it didn't matter what the sound was. She was embraced by all an incredible artist, an incredible loss for all of us. But we'll preserve her legacy here at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

BURNETT: Kevin, you know, you met Dolly back in 2019 at the Grammy's. What happened when Dolly Parton walked into a room like that? Right. It's oh my gosh, there's Dolly Parton.

KEVIN FRAZIER, HOST, ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT: In a business where stars like to be stars. She liked to make you shine and literally, Dolly Parton walked up on the stage and this was regular old Aunt Dolly loving you, checking on you, seeing how you're doing.

And, you know, we try to be as cool and as calm as possible, but you're standing next to a legend and we, you know, sometimes people forget during that run during the '80s and '90s, Dolly was everywhere. She crossed all genres.

And now you even think about the influences that, you know, from Beyonce to Judas Priest. You know, you can talk about Dolly. I could not find a person who did not love Dolly and really enjoy.

And I think that its very important that we remember all the great things she did for humanity, from giving $1 million for that COVID vaccine to all the books that you mentioned, because her daddy couldn't read to, you know, taking care of all the folks at Dollywood and helping them further their education.

This woman didn't have children because she adopted the world. She was just a different kind of human being. And, dammit, she will be missed.

BURNETT: This is really incredible. You say that she just wanted others around her to shine. It was perhaps no greater compliment to give to a human being.

Robin, you interviewed her. You worked directly with Dolly. And I just wanted to play for you because you saw her in that context of working with her. Something she talked about when she was asked about the incredible success that she had achieved. Let me play it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PARTON: Because of the way I was brought up and my beliefs and principles and values, hopefully that I -- I count my blessings more than I count my money. I just feel like if I'm doing what I am happy doing and doing things to share and to help everybody else, I of course, will make tons of money. And as I've always joked, it costs a lot to look this cheap and I need the money.

But it ain't just about the money. I really love the work. I love the creative end of it. I love seeing and making and helping things happen. And it really is a great thing. I know that I'm very fortunate, but I don't take a bit of that for granted.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: And, Robin, you know, you met her that all of that I know rings true to you. But could you just talk about how you saw her and how incredibly hard she worked, how relentless she was about her work?

ROBIN MEADE, FORMER HLN ANCHOR (via telephone): Yeah. When you think about her age, even in the past 5 to 10 years, I feel like her work never leveled off. Like she was sure a touring musician and a great songwriter and performer that we knew her for. And we saw her on television. We saw her in the movies, and of course, all the things that she did to help other people.

But, you know, the other day I looked down, I think I was at the grocery store, I looked down and there is a Dolly Parton cake mix staring back at me in the grocery store. I looked online and there was Dolly Parton Jolene, I think by good American. This woman's work, it never slowed down, even as she approached, you know, 80 years of age and even after the death of her longtime husband.

So, I feel like her work ethic is so amazing and such an example to all of us. She put a lot of work, I feel like, in taking care of other people and her fans, that she knew the connection that she had. She was very hands-on.

She reached out -- apparently, she was a longtime viewer of our morning show that went off the air like three, four years ago, but she had reached out when the wildfires happened and ripped so many people out of their homes in the Smoky Mountains.

She wanted to do this big telethon fundraiser, and she could have just stood there in the limelight and had the cameras come on and call on her famous friends to donate. But she didn't. She had me. She asked if I would come and help co-host it, and we sat together that morning and she edited the scripts herself. She looked at the rundown herself.

This was a hands-on woman. And that's just one angle of it. I think she was hands on in everything she did. I mean, that day she called Cyndi Lauper and Kenny Rogers and all of her celebrity friends came. Reba McEntire came and they performed.

But people also donated. Taylor Swift donated. Paul Simon, it was like this -- if Dolly Parton called, you know, you stepped up to the plate because you knew that she cared for so many people and that that much to her fans.

And I want to point out to that this is a woman who could have had anything she wanted.

[19:15:00]

She could have had a bunch of fancy schmancy folks around her, but she didn't. From as far as I could tell, the people around her, and I'm talking like her longtime stylist, the guy who sold every sequin on every bodice that she wore. You know, these are people who've been around her for a very long time, a tiny, tight knit group.

And, you know, along with her nieces and nephews and her siblings, my heart goes out to that core group because what an absence. You know what -- there's never going to be another one like her. And the world was better for her.

BURNETT: And you know, Greg, when Robin, you shared so many anecdotes there that, you know, well stick with anyone listening. But when you talk about how hard she worked going in those scripts that Robin just described, Greg, Dolly Parton sold 100 million albums worldwide, 50 albums recorded, 25 number one hits.

You know, but in all of that and all of that hard work, she said something in this age of A.I. that I just think will resonate with everybody. Here's what she said about writing a hit song.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Have you been good, when you write something at predicting how well it'll do?

PARTON: No, I wouldn't know a hit if it jumped up and bit me in the butt. You just write and you hope, you know -- you just, I just write what comes out of me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: Greg, is there -- there's a lesson in there for everyone. There's a lesson there for everyone. But how incredible to say that.

HARRIS: You know, I think one of her most endearing traits was her humility. And she was understating that as under as you can go, to be honored as a songwriter. You know, her songs were covered by other songwriters. Merle Haggard covered Dolly Parton songs. We all know the great Whitney Houston song. Another Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, I'll always love you.

And she was just celebrated as a songwriter. She is incredible. But much like first demurring on being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, she did the same with the Presidential Honor. And I think that humility is something that endeared her to all of us.

But she backed up the artistic, you don't write 3000 songs without a fire and a passion and have 50 number one hits. A songwriter is lucky to have one number one hit, but to have 50 in your lifetime is staggering. And to do everything she did, she really was a great role model and a great example of you get what you give. And she gave her heart. She gave her love, she gave her philanthropy to others, and it came back to her, always.

She was very, very welcoming and sort of the welcoming aunt that we all wish that we had to really embrace us and make us feel great. She made others feel great. And it's our turn to do the same for others.

BURNETT: Robin, you mentioned Dolly's loss of her husband, Carl Dean. They had been married for nearly six decades. I mean, that was her. That was her person, her partner in life. And that loss a year ago, undoubtedly with her own health issues, incredibly difficult.

And she talked a little bit about how she was carrying on without him. Here's what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PARTON: I had no idea that so many people we're so in love with our love, with our love story. But it was a heartbreaker, no doubt. And you know, I get -- I'll always deal with waves coming in and out, but at least I've had my work and Carl would expect that. And that's all I've ever done, you know? So. But yes, thanks to everybody for -- for the concern.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: Robin, how much did his loss change her?

MEADE: It makes you wonder, doesn't it, because never before would you hear Dolly even say, I got to take some time off. My doctor says I need to deal with my own health because I was helping with Carl, and I let mine go, basically what she -- she told us all and. And it seems to impact a broken heart and certainly, she appeared to have that, but she still soldiered on and still tried to work for her fans. And so many of us are going to miss her so much.

BURNETT: Well, I appreciate all of you sharing -- sharing her the way you have with us. And those anecdotes are obviously unforgettable.

So, thank you all so much. I appreciate it.

And the breaking news this hour, also out of South Carolina. We are monitoring this. We're going to bring you up because polls have just closed and we are getting the first results. And this is a very, very important night because it's an election. Trump has a lot riding on.

He handpicked Darline Graham -- Lindsey Graham's sister. And the question is, will she win or will this be a loss for Trump?

[19:20:00]

And we are getting results, as you can see here.

And I'm going to talk to actor Griffin Dunne, who shared the big screen with Parton.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PARTON: How much?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's scrubs.

PARTON: No. I did not ask what it was. I asked how much.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: And country legend Randy Travis joins us exclusively as he remembers one of his dearest friends.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BURNETT: Breaking news, tributes to the late Dolly Parton pouring in tonight. Julia Roberts, who costarred with Parton in the film "Steel Magnolias" and we just played a clip from that a moment ago, said, and I quote, "I hold knowing her as a treasure in my life. The sun has dimmed today."

Parton, of course, was a beloved actress. She was in more than a dozen movies. I mentioned the Oscar nominations, but it was more than a dozen movies, including one with our next guest, Griffin Dunne, who starred with Parton in the 1992 romantic comedy "Straight Talk", in which Parton played a small-town dance instructor who unintentionally becomes a successful radio show host.

[19:25:04]

Dunne plays her station manager. Here's a clip.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You make me very proud of myself tonight. You're my discovery.

PARTON: Alan, I am not the Adam (ph).

How much?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's scrubs.

PARTON: No, I didn't ask what it was. I asked how much?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's complimentary.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: And Griffin Dunne is OUTFRONT now.

And, Griffin, you and Dolly play off each other so well in this movie. We'll play some more clips. I can only imagine sort of the nostalgia. You know, looking back at both of you at just such a different point in your lives, right, as you look at this.

GRIFFIN DUNNE, ACTOR: Yeah.

BURNETT: So when you see that and -- and you have memories come back of those moments together, what do you remember when you see the two of you together on screen?

DUNNE: Well, you know, I met her because I screen tested to be her possible love interest in "Straight Talk". And from the moment we met, I mean, it was we connected like boom, and we improvised and we're loose as a goose. And Dolly said, I want Griffin. I want Griffin to be the guy. Disney did not. But -- so they took -- to please her. I was the third lead. This sort

of obnoxious guy. I play. And I mean, we had so much fun. She was just so loose and, so generous as an actor.

And, you know, I've been studying acting for a long time. She came out with no training or anything. I mean, she, she was more loose and spontaneous and filled with life in a way that, you know, you couldn't study to become as assured as she was, and we just had a lot of laughs.

BURNETT: So, let me play another clip from the movie. All right, here we go.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PARTON: I wish Steve could see me now. Boy, he'd eat his words.

DUNNE: Steve's the ex-husband.

PARTON: No, Steve's the guy that I was living with after the last time me and Leland got divorced.

DUNNE: The last time? How many times have you been -- three times. You've been married three times.

PARTON: Yeah, but to the same guy.

DUNNE: Oh

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: You know, part of that clip. We're watching you watch it. Griffin was, you know, she's drinking the champagne in the limousine, and. And you have a story about the actor who drove the limousine in that scene.

Okay. Can you share it?

DUNNE: Sure, sure. You know, there is a very successful, very prolific, , television producer named Greg Berlanti. And I was at a party. I'd never met him. He came up to me and he said, I don't think you will remember this, but when I was a freshman at Northwestern University in Chicago, which is where we shot the movie, I was an extra and I was the guy who drove the limousine.

And while I was -- while you guys we're in the back seat and I would listen to you and Dolly just tearing it up and improvising and, you know, laughing your ass off and I was sort of envious at the time, I wanted to be an actor.

And then we broke for lunch and Dolly and I are walking to her table where she has a reserved. And she sees this kid sitting by himself at the table and she goes, what are you doing there all by yourself, all lonely and everything? Come join us.

And the kid sat with us and it was so typical of her. And, you know, we she asked all about him. And I didn't talk about herself. And Greg said to me that night, you know, that was the day I said, I've got to get into show business.

And it's just so typical of her to, you know, see someone sitting alone, you know, we hadn't talked to him, you know, we we're doing our bit in the back, but that was just, you know, who she was.

God, I miss her. I mean, I've really, you know, you don't see a heart like that, you know, when there was a -- the most famous person id worked with before Dolly was Madonna. And she -- this was at the peak of her fame, you know, and when we would shoot off the set and we'd be off the lot, there would be paparazzi and crazy looking fans, sort of day of the locust kind of madness and helicopters.

[19:30:06]

And -- but when I was with Dolly and we were out in public, people would just yell from cars or on the street or maybe out windows, you know, "I love you, Dolly, I love you." I mean, the warmth of love that came her way, it was like a warm bath, and it was just -- it was just a different vibe altogether.

BURNETT: Well, thank you for sharing that. The warmth, like a warm bath. Thank you. Griffin. And we are now just getting some more results here out of South Carolina.

We're going to bring those to you in just a moment. In that runoff election. That is a real test here of Trump's endorsement. Hugely controversial. John King is up next. We'll show you exactly where we are.

And then we'll speak exclusively with country music star Randy Travis about his dear friend Dolly Parton.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:35:39]

BURNETT: All right. We are also following breaking news in South Carolina tonight, where new results in the states special runoff election for U.S. Senate are coming in. Polls, they're just closing. The late Lindsey Graham's sister, Darline, is fighting to hold on to his former seat.

So let's just show you the vote board as we have it right now. You can see she has a very notable lead 57 percent of the current votes to 43 percent for Ralph Norman, very well-known, longtime Republican congressman.

However, look at the bottom of your screen. You can see only 11 percent of the vote is in. So, she's only leading by 6000 votes. And this really depends on where the vote is. And it is testing the power of Trump's endorsement.

He has been actively campaigning for Graham, scrambling to save her. He went down to South Carolina to campaign for her after she said this at a recent debate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MODERATOR: Are Taiwan and South China Sea national security issues for the United States? And if so, why or how?

SEN. DARLINE GRAHAM (R-SC): I'm just going to be honest here. I'm not on national security, that I'm not that informed on national security. So -- but I do support the military.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: So the big question, though, is whether Trump's backing and going to the mat on this can get Graham over the finish line.

John King is OUTFRONT. He's on assignment in Colorado closely following this race.

Many magic wall is with us tonight. No matter where you go, John, the wall goes as well. So, we're just getting some results. I was giving the vote board, but you've only got 11 percent in, so I know you're going to tell me everything depends on where that 11 percent is and isn't.

What are you seeing?

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is only 11 percent. But you see there that's a 15-point lead, just about a little shy of that right now. If you -- if you round Congressman Norman up to 43 percent.

But if you're in the Graham headquarters, Erin, at this hour, you're encouraged, even though you have a long way to go and a lot of votes to count. Why do I say you should be encouraged if you're in the Graham headquarters? We'll look at where the vote is coming in.

Look at the deeper, darker red for Ralph Norman. It's in north, central and northwestern part of the state. Right. You see it up. Let me get this to work here. Here we go. It's up here in this part of the state.

That is where his congressional district is, in the areas to the west of that. That is where he is best known. Let me try to center this back up for you again. I moved a little crazy here, so let's go back in time two weeks. Why is this encouraging for Senator Graham?

This is the primary just two weeks ago, the primary that forced a runoff because neither candidate. The top two advance, nobody got 50 percent.

But you see, that's the same area where Ralph Norman is running strong right now, where he did well two weeks ago. And the question was, could he build support elsewhere in the state? Could he take some of Russell Fry's vote? You see the Fry district up here in the top corner. That's his congressional district. And he won that. This is Norman's

district and the area to the west of it. And he won that. So, the challenge tonight was could somebody expand or would Senator Graham, with the help of that Trump endorsement, continue to win the other areas of the state?

So, we're up to 12 percent right now. It's 14-point race as you look at it. But as it fills in right now, and I'm looking at this, Ralph Norman is running strong again where he ran strong two weeks ago. But in no other county to the east and south of that is he in the lead.

So, we still have votes to count. But if you're in Graham headquarters, Erin, this bodes very well. And the presidents had a few setbacks recently in Florida, in Minnesota, and a few other races. So, at the White House, if this holds up, they'll be quite happy, too.

BURNETT: Yeah, obviously would be would be important for him. So, if you're Norman and you're looking at this, where does he still have the space? You know, given that we only have this many in. But you know, you're talking about the trends in the areas that she's doing well, where does Norman have to run it up from here?

KING: So, you're looking at population here. So let me just come down here to the Charleston area and bring this up. You know, it's only nine percent of the vote. But look at the margin there, right? It's 18 points.

So, he has to hope. It's a small number of votes right there. He has to hope that these are early votes that are coming in and that he gets a ton of election day vote that has yet to be counted in one of the more populous areas of the state. Then you come up into the middle of the state. Columbia is the state capital. We don't have any votes there just yet.

You know, he has to hope that he can. Again, if you see his regional strength is in the north, central and the northwest part of the state. If he's stuck, it's just simply not enough votes up there. And it's simple math. He has to perform well down here in the rest of the state. But Senator Graham right now is winning not only the counties that she won last time, two weeks ago, where she was leading in them, but her vote totals are higher and she's winning the area of the congressman.

Fry carried his own district last from two weeks ago. So looking at this map and the Graham headquarters, I would be very happy at this moment.

[19:40:02]

And in Norman, I'd be a little nervous that you haven't been able to spread your support outside the part of the state you call home.

BURNETT: All right. Well, we're going to keep watching this as these numbers come in. And thank you, John King, as I said, joining us with that mini wall from the Rocky Mountains. And next, breaking news, CNN just learning more about Dolly Parton's

health troubles before she died, country music star Randy Travis will join us. Also live to remember his dear friend Dolly Parton. And you know, her songs. But how much do you know about the meaning behind them? She wrote them all herself, and our Tom Foreman will take us behind the music.

(MUSIC)

BURNETT: Breaking news just into CNN tonight, legendary country music singer and songwriter Dolly Parton dying after a, quote, "brief battle with cancer", according to her publicist, who has just released Parton's cause of death.

Tonight, celebrities, politicians, business giants, just fans across the world are all rushing to commemorate the superstar.

[19:45:09]

Among them is Dolly Parton's dear friend Randy Travis, legendary country music singer and songwriter who posted in part, "From our hearts to the throne of glory, we release one of our greatest angels, our butterfly Dolly. I've been blessed to know many wonderful folks throughout my career in country music, but none quite like you, Dolly."

Randy's friendship with Dolly Parton goes back decades. If you remember the 1988 country music awards, Dolly Parton famously surprised Travis sitting down in his lap there, as you can see. Let's watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PARTON: And I just want you to know that if I was 20 years younger and I was single and you like little blonds with the big hair and big ideas that I would be giving you a run for your money.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: A moment in a long and special friendship.

Randy Travis and Mary Davis join us now.

And it is it is just an honor to have you, Randy, on the show again. I know we had the privilege of all speaking together in 2023 when you opened up about your life-altering stroke. And I know in that context, you -- you've been aware and empathetic in a way that -- that few truly can about the health struggles that Dolly's had in recent years, her loss of her husband.

Can you share what you remember most about her? And why -- why you're choosing to tell her story now?

RANDY TRAVIS, COUNTRY MUSIC SINGER: And --

MARY DAVIS, RANDY TRAVIS' WIFE: Well, as you know, Randy has aphasia from that stroke in 2013. So yes, I speak for him.

Yes. Dolly, they go way back from, you know, '88 at that CMA when she sat in his lap, and in '89 when she snuck up behind him. And of course, Randy when she walked back off, he's like, you know, it's tough job.

Randy and Dolly always had such a special bond. She was there and moving like a freight train through country music when Randy came on the scene. She just took him under her wing. Always loved and adored him.

Encouraged him when he said he thought -- maybe that's not what he could do or was supposed to be doing. And she was always encouraging him. You know, and they did a duet on "Heroes and Friends" in 1990. It was Randy's "Heroes and Friends", and he said one of his favorites was working with Dolly again. And no doubt she belonged on the "Heroes and Friends" album, because she certainly was that to so many millions of people around the world.

BURNETT: And you talk about, you know, those times you performed together at the CMA Awards, you know, when you did that duet together? Randy, did I ever cross your mind?

And, you know, what was -- what was that experience like? You -- you are a superstar yourself, right? So, so it wasn't that the big lights were unfamiliar. None of that. Right?

You were a star. But nonetheless, she was Dolly Parton. You're singing this together. What was that experience like?

TRAVIS: Oh.

DAVIS: Yeah. He would -- he would say, you know, he didn't -- Randy never thought of himself as a big superstar, but he was certainly enamored with being in the room with people like Dolly Parton and the people that he so looked up to for, for so long. And Dolly was one of those.

And to be able to work with her in the studio, like some of the other greats, he just, you know, those we're pinch me moments. And to work with Dolly, of course, she lightened up the room. Wherever she was, she -- she -- people, people -- her habit was making people laugh and to make people happy and to make them feel like they're the one and only in the room.

And she was so good at that, Randy said working with her was just a dream come true. I think that she's the one that makes it all easier because of her, you know, the way that she -- well, what she did with people. I mean, she knew how -- she knew how to make them,. they were princes and princes in front of her. But, she was truly the queen. She was so special and loved Randy to pieces.

So, their history together, we saw her in Oklahoma a couple of years back and it was just -- you just never felt like there was a moment you weren't with Dolly. She was -- she was family and friends.

[19:50:03]

BURNETT: You know, Mary, you know, you and Randy, you know, you have been through, you know, your -- the struggles together and the love that you share. And I know that in that context, you know, Dolly losing her husband a year ago, 60 years together, the good and the bad and the -- and the struggles and that just that incredible love that they shared.

And at one point, I know she talked to Larry King saying, I can't believe people are so interested in my love story. And yet we all were because it was something to aspire to. And I know, Mary, that, you know, in your -- in you knowing her personally, knowing that love, what do you -- you know, what do you remember about her yourself?

DAVIS: Her commitment. You know, Carl was -- he was -- he was in the -- in the back. He was in the side -- on side stage. And they were good with that. They were -- they were fine with that. And he supported her in every single way.

She always spoke so kindly. She was always, you know, on the road a lot, but always ready to get home to see Carl. I think that they -- they set a great example for us as far as what true love can be.

You don't have to always be there. In our case, I have to be -- I have to be here all the time. And Randy probably wishes it was some a little different, but --

TRAVIS: No, no.

DAVIS: But I think she -- she proved that you can -- you can follow your dreams and you find the right person and they keep you lifted up. They walk beside you even if they're not right beside you all the time.

So, she's a great inspiration. And she did it with such a smile on her face and a song in her heart. She was -- I love Dolly, and she always treated me, like I said, like she had known me forever. So, she just had a way of embracing life and embracing people.

And it's not what Dolly balled (ph), it's what she built. It's not what she got, but what she gave in life. And for that, we will always be thankful.

BURNETT: Well, thank you both for -- for speaking out about someone that had been, you know, so near and dear to you for so many years and sharing just a little bit of that with us and everyone. Everyone feels -- feels the loss, even those who, of course never met her. But she had that effect.

So thank you both so much. I really appreciate it, Randy and Mary, for having the chance to talk to you again. Thank you.

And next from "Jolene," "I will always love you," we all know the songs, but there was something behind them, right? She wrote them herself. Thousands of them, 3,000 of them.

And wait until you hear what some of those lyrics meant personally to Dolly Parton.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:57:06]

BURNETT: Tonight, Mick Jagger among those paying tribute to Dolly Parton, writing, "What a wonderful songwriter and singer Dolly was. She brought so many people together. We will all miss her so much."

Tom Foreman has more on the meaning behind her legendary lyrics.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(DOLLY PARTON SINGING)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Before the fame, the philanthropy, the dazzling Dolly-ness of it all, Dolly's songs of working people we're everything.

(DOLLY PARTON SINGING)

FOREMAN (voice-over): Her lyrics told the tales of their struggles on the job, in the home.

(DOLLY PARTON SINGING)

FOREMAN (voice-over): And of course, in the heart. Many of her most memorable tunes, including her greatest commercial hit were about failed relationships.

(DOLLY PARTON SINGING)

FOREMAN (voice-over): But there was so much more, songs about jealousy and longing.

(DOLLY PARTON SINGING)

FOREMAN (voice-over): Songs about poverty and pride.

(DOLLY PARTON SINGING)

FOREMAN (voice-over): Her message could be tough too. When white supremacists rose in the news, she took the name Dixie off an attraction at her amusement park. She supported LGBTQ rights and the Black Lives Matter movement.

PARTON: Do we think our little white asses are the only ones that matter?

FOREMAN (voice-over): She promoted reading, access to medical care, education, her career, life and lyrics we're a constant campaign for women's rights.

(DOLLY PARTON SINGING)

FOREMAN (voice-over): She met Richard Nixon, performed for Jimmy Carter, was honored at the Kennedy Center by George W. Bush and turned down the Medal of Freedom from both Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Through it all, she gently pushed away from any partisan claim to her fame.

PARTON: My joke is that my daddy was a Republican, my mom was a Democrat, and I'm a hypocrite.

FOREMAN (voice-over): Yet even in tumultuous times, she embraced all who wanted to join her in the kindness and caring of the Dolly party.

(DOLLY PARTON SINGING)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOREMAN: She was such a great songwriter. Erin, I think if she had done nothing else, she'd still be hall of fame material. Fortunately for all of us, she did so much more.

BURNETT: Tom, thank you so much.

And thanks so much to all of you for joining us.

"AC360" begins right now.