When Reba McEntire enlisted Dolly Parton to join her for a duet on "Does He Love You," off McEntire's Revived Remixed Revisited album, the collaboration was a long time coming for both stars.

They'd long been friends, and throughout their towering parallel careers in country music, they often supported each other, performed on the same bills at the same events and tributed each other at special ceremonies. They even co-hosted the 2019 CMA Awards, alongside another superstar from a younger generation, Carrie Underwood. But it wasn't until the two legends teamed up for "Does He Love You" — originally a duet between McEntire and Linda Davis, which came out in 1993 — that they finally brought their voices together on the same track.

When word got out that Revived Remixed Revisited included a guest spot from Parton, many country fans couldn't believe that the pair hadn't ever collaborated before, and they weren't the only ones.

"It's a dream come true for me to have finally had the chance to record something with her," McEntire shares with Billboard. "And then to see the reaction to it, and the video has just been icing on the cake. I can't believe it's taken us this long to finally get together, but I sure am glad we did."

Both women are towering figures in country music, and both have contributed staple songs to the genre. "Jolene and Fancy would be proud!" McEntire continues, in a nod to two of the most iconic selections from each of their catalogs.

Revived Remixed Revisited is an extensive, three-disc collection that finds the singer putting new spins on some of the best-loved songs of her storied career. The project came out in October.

12 Rarely Seen Photos of Dolly Parton In the '70s

Dolly Parton was a really, really big star in the 1970s, so when she showed up to party, famous people gathered around her. The country music icon was a must-see act on both coasts, and photos not included in this illustrious gallery feature her dancing at Studio 54 and performing across the world. 

These 12 rarely seen photos of Dolly Parton from the 1970s give you a look at what her life — and celebrity life in general — was like 40 to 50 years ago. There are a few country stars included in these pics, but mostly this list is filled with unexpected moments with other stars you'll recognize.

More From KIKN-FM / Kickin' Country 99.1/100.5