Country music icons Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire have been friends for 45 years, with their bond built on faith, family, and a shared commitment to giving back. Both small-town girls who achieved stardom in a predominantly male industry, they have faced hardships and relied on each other for support while remaining devoted to helping others.

Parton established Dollywood, a theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, in 1986, to stimulate the local economy. Today, Dollywood brings in an estimated $100 million annually and ranks as Tennessee's most visited tourist attraction. McEntire recently opened Reba's Place, a restaurant and live-music venue in her Oklahoma hometown, which has already welcomed 500,000 visitors since January.

The two first met at McEntire's debut show at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry in 1977. A source said, "Dolly had been Reba's idol for the longest time... They became friends right away." Despite their fame, both stars remain grounded and humble. Parton mentored McEntire, offering advice on navigating the music industry, with both achieving incredible success.

Reba has frequently cited Dolly as her biggest inspiration, saying, "She's so creative, so witty, so spunky, so feisty. And the biggest-hearted person I've ever met in my life. She helps so many people and takes care of so many people." In 2020, Parton donated $1 million towards Covid-19 vaccine research, and her Imagination Library has distributed 150 million books to children worldwide.

Both artists have supported each other through personal challenges, including the tragic 1991 plane crash that killed seven members of McEntire's band and her 2015 divorce from Narvel Blackstock. The two stars share a common faith, having grown up singing gospel music, with songs of hope, faith, redemption, and love resonating deeply with them.

Family remains a priority for both Parton and McEntire. Reba has a 33-year-old son with her ex-husband and is currently in a relationship with her Big Sky co-star, Rex Linn. Parton is famously close to her family, having once refused to sell Elvis Presley the rights to her song "I Will Always Love You" to support her relatives with the royalties.

Despite their focus on philanthropy, the duo has no plans to retire from music. McEntire said, "We're having a blast. I'm about 10 years younger than Dolly, and she inspires me daily... As long as we can do what we do and still enjoy it, we can continue doing it."