Wynonna Judd, 62, is still coming to terms with the loss of Dolly Parton.

In a Guardian profile published Friday, Nov. 6, Wynonna opened up about her dear friend’s death, saying, “[I am] still in denial… It’s the end of an era.”

Parton died Aug. 25, 2026, at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer.

Wynonna often called Dolly her “aunt,” and she remembered her as a joyful presence: “She was always the brightest light in the room… being with her was like being at Disney World, she was just so much fun.”

Their last meeting came in one of the hardest moments of Wynonna’s life. Dolly showed up for Wynonna after her mother Naomi Judd’s death in 2022, attending the funeral and memorial service, where she sang part of “I Will Always Love You.”

“She showed up for me at my mom’s funeral and memorial and sang a little of ‘I Will Always Love You,'” Wynonna said. “She looked into my eyes and told me that she loved me and I told her I loved her, and that was the last time I saw her.”

After Dolly’s death, Wynonna shared a tribute on Instagram: “To imagine a world without @dollyparton is almost unthinkable… There will never be another Dolly. I will miss my friend more than words can say. From one mountain woman to another, I will always love you.”

Wynonna served as mega mentor on The Voice Season 24 in 2023.

Read the full profile in The Guardian, as reported by EntertainmentNow.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Peabody Awards