The country music world is reeling after the sudden, heartbreaking death of Brandon Blackstock at just 48 years old—a loss that has sent shockwaves through Nashville, Hollywood, and beyond. But in the middle of this storm, one voice rises above the rest with wisdom, compassion, and the kind of hard-earned perspective only a living legend can offer. Dolly Parton, the queen of country herself, has opened up exclusively to ET about the pain of losing a loved one, sharing the advice she hopes will bring comfort to both Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire as they mourn this unimaginable loss.

Brandon Blackstock’s death came as a gut punch to fans and family alike. The former music manager, known for his high-profile marriage to Kelly Clarkson and his famous stepmother Reba McEntire, died after a private battle with melanoma, a vicious form of skin cancer he kept hidden from the public until the very end. For Kelly, who was married to Brandon for nearly a decade, and Reba, who helped raise him during her marriage to his father Narvel Blackstock, the grief is both deeply personal and painfully public.

As tributes pour in and the world tries to make sense of yet another tragedy in the spotlight, Dolly Parton’s words carry a special weight. Having just lost her beloved husband Carl Dean, the man she called her rock for over five decades, Dolly knows all too well the jagged edges of grief. But instead of retreating into her own pain, she’s using her platform to reach out to two women she calls friends—and to anyone struggling with loss.

In an exclusive sit-down with ET’s Denny Directo, Dolly didn’t shy away from the hard questions. When asked if she’d been able to reach out to Kelly or Reba since Brandon’s passing, Dolly admitted she hadn’t yet, but promised she would. “Oh, yeah. I love her,” Dolly said of Kelly, her affection clear. “We’ve been so involved in all this stuff here, but I will. I’ll catch up with her.” Her words for Reba were just as warm: “I am actually. I’m working with Reba today on some of my publicity… but yeah, I love Reba and I love Kelly.”

But it was Dolly’s advice on grief that truly struck a chord—a message not just for Kelly and Reba, but for anyone who’s ever lost someone they loved. “I think that you just have to be grateful for the years that you’ve had with someone and you just try to remember the very best of all that,” Dolly shared, her voice gentle but steady. “Take their energy that they had given you then and kind of just recycle that and let that become a part of you and just know that they’re… just honor their memory and just know they’re in a better place than we are these days.”

It’s classic Dolly—honest, uplifting, and impossibly wise. And it’s exactly what Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire need right now, as they navigate the most difficult chapter of their lives under the harsh glare of the public eye. For Kelly, the pain is compounded by the fact that she only revealed Brandon’s illness to her fans a day before his death, cancelling shows in Las Vegas to be by his side with their children, River Rose and Remington. For Reba, who helped raise Brandon and remained close even after her divorce from Narvel, the loss is a reminder of how fragile and precious family truly is.

Fans have watched as Kelly, ever the consummate professional, broke down in tears on stage just days after Brandon’s death, her voice cracking as she performed “Piece by Piece”—a song that now carries a new, even deeper meaning. Reba, meanwhile, has kept her grief mostly private, but those who know her say she’s leaning on her faith, her friends, and the lessons learned from decades in the business.

Dolly’s advice couldn’t come at a better time. In a world obsessed with headlines, drama, and scandal, her message is a powerful reminder that grief is universal—and that even the biggest stars are, at the end of the day, just human. “People always say, ‘Who are your best friends?’” Dolly mused. “Well, my best friends are my family, my sisters, because I don’t have time to get out and socialize.” It’s a sentiment that rings true for so many who find solace in the people closest to them when the world feels too heavy to bear.

As the news of Brandon Blackstock’s death continues to ripple through the industry, one thing is certain: the pain of his loss will linger long after the headlines fade. But thanks to Dolly Parton’s courage in sharing her own journey through grief, Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire—and the millions of fans who look up to them—have a roadmap for moving forward. It’s not about forgetting, Dolly says, but about honoring the love that was, and carrying that light into the future.

In the end, it’s a lesson only Dolly could teach: that even in the darkest moments, there’s hope, there’s healing, and there’s music. And as long as we remember those we’ve lost, they’re never really gone. For Kelly, for Reba, and for anyone who’s ever loved and lost, Dolly’s words are a lifeline—a reminder that grief may never truly end, but neither does love.