Pat Benatar Pays Tribute to “Sweet Friend” Dolly Parton With Emotional “Heartbreaker” Performance
Pat Benatar turned a live performance into a heartfelt tribute to Dolly Parton, choosing the song that connected the two rock icons across generations.
One month after Parton’s death, Benatar took the stage at Kevin Costner’s One805LIVE! event in California and dedicated her performance to the country legend, whom she remembered as her “sweet friend.”
Parton died on Aug. 25 at age 80 following a short battle with cancer.
During the performance, Benatar looked back on the final musical project she and Parton shared: a new version of “Heartbreaker,” the song that helped launch Benatar’s career.
“Our last project that we did together was this song together as a whole combo,” Benatar told the California crowd, according to People. “This is the song that started it all.”
“Heartbreaker” Came Full Circle
“Heartbreaker” first appeared on Benatar’s 1979 debut album, In the Heat of the Night. The song became an important part of her early career and, decades later, found a new life through her collaboration with Parton.
The two artists reimagined “Heartbreaker” as a duet for Parton’s 2023 album Rockstar, bringing together two performers whose careers had long crossed musical boundaries.
For Benatar, the collaboration carried particular meaning. She and Parton first met at the 37th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in 2022. The following year, shortly before Rockstar was released, Benatar spoke with ABC News about the opportunity to work with Parton.
Benatar described Parton as someone who was “born to rock,” regardless of the musical style she pursued.
“It doesn’t matter what avenue, which genre of music she chose to do, she always rocked at what she did,” Benatar said. “She walked so we could fly. That’s where it starts, before us, because that was her alone by herself just figuring it out and just doing it. I’m happy to have finally done something together.”
Neil Giraldo Remembered Parton’s Kindness
Benatar’s husband and longtime musical collaborator, Neil Giraldo, shared her admiration for Parton. He praised not only the singer’s extraordinary talent but also the warmth she showed to the people around her.
“Not only is she an incredible talent, she’s the sweetest thing you’re ever going to want to meet,” Giraldo told ABC News. “You just wanted to have her around, [like], ‘Hey, come over for dinner, Dolly. Lets hang out for a while.’ It’s just incredible sweetness, sweet as can be.”
That affection helps explain why Benatar’s return to “Heartbreaker” carried such emotional weight. The song represented the beginning of her recording career and, decades later, became the centerpiece of one of her final musical connections with Parton.
Parton Brought an All-Star Cast to Rockstar
Benatar and Giraldo were among the many high-profile musicians who joined Parton for Rockstar, her first rock album.
The record featured collaborations with artists including Elton John, Stevie Nicks, Sting, Pink and Brandi Carlile.
Parton previously explained to NPR how she approached the musicians she wanted to join the project. Rather than making the process complicated, she said she sent personal messages through their managers.
“I just sent them a love note through their managers,” Parton said. “And all the people I reached out to said, ‘Yes, we’d love to,’ and I was very honored and very proud and very humbled by that.”
For Benatar, performing “Heartbreaker” at One805LIVE! offered a chance to revisit that collaboration while honoring the woman behind it.
The performance also brought the story of the song full circle: first released by Benatar in 1979, then transformed more than four decades later through her collaboration with Parton, and now performed again in memory of the friend Benatar described as “sweet” and deeply admired.
© 2026 Breaking Times • Built with GeneratePress