Call Me Kat will honor late cast member Leslie Jordan with a surprise tribute from the beloved singer Dolly Parton. For nearly three seasons, Jordan brought his natural comedic abilities to the role of Phil on the Mayim Bialik-led Fox sitcom, the eternally cheerful and heartwarming head baker at Kat's Café. Following the actor's shocking death in a car accident in October 2022, devastated fans have been left wondering how the show would address Jordan's sudden absence.
Almost three months after the tragic passing of brilliant actor, comedian, and singer Leslie Jordan, Call Me Kat has paid homage to the late cast member with a touching musical tribute from Dolly Parton included in the sitcom's winter premiere. Per Deadline, after singing a portion of the song "Where the Soul Never Dies", which she recorded with Jordan for his 2021 album Company's Comin', Parton went on to speak to his effortless effervescence and the bond she shared with him, closing with one of her most famous lines, "I will always love you." See Parton's full statement about her dear friend below:
I know usually at a memorial people talk about somebody. Well, I’m going to talk to you, because there is that place on the other side, and I’m certainly going to see you there, little brother. You left a lot of people here with a lot of precious, precious memories. Everybody loved you, but I doubt many of them loved you more than I did. I just want you to know that we all love you, we all miss you, and I bet you’re having a big laugh over all of us being sad and sorrowful, and I know that would be the last thing you would want us to be. You made us happy while you were here, and we’re happy that you’re at peace. I just want you to know that I will always love you. Goodbye, my sweet Leslie. See you over there.
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How Call Me Kat Explained Phil’s Absence
Along with showing respect for Jordan's legacy, Call Me Kat was also tasked with explaining the abrupt absence of the series regular character, Phil. Amid the national grief over the comedy icon was the immense personal loss felt by the sitcom's cast and crew who have been outspoken about the difficulty of returning to set without his buoyant energy. For this reason, the show decided to ensure that Phil will live on.
Mayim Bialik previously alluded to wanting to give Phil the happy ending that fans and friends of Jordan would have wanted for him in real life. The winter premiere of Call Me Kat did just that as they clarified the character's fate when the newly introduced character of Phil's mother, played by Vicki Lawrence, announced that Phil and his partner Jalen (John Griffin) were getting married and had permanently moved to Tahiti. This narrative decision, coupled with Parton's moving tribute, allowed the show to honor the life of Jordan while comforting fans with the knowledge that his role on the show will live on.
Leslie Jordan's Eternal Legacy
From appearing on such beloved sitcoms as Will & Grace to finding fame among a new generation with his hilarious and heartening social media videos, Jordan was universally cherished for his indiscriminate desire and ability to spread joy. Call Me Kat's fitting tribute is a testament to his continued immutable presence not only on the show, but with all of the people his work has touched. Despite his untimely passing, Jordan's light and legacy of love and laughter will surely remain immortal.
Source: Deadline