Entertainment · Music · 4 hrs ago
Country stars honor Dolly Parton in Nashville TV tribute
Country stars and friends honored Dolly Parton in a two-hour television special held in Nashville on Oct.
21.
The show, called “CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton,” aired on ABC and Disney+.
Parton, who grew up in Sevierville, Tennessee, died from cancer in August, according to one account.
Performers revisited songs including “Jolene” and “9 to 5”, while friends such as Oprah Winfrey shared memories of her kindness and influence.
The tribute celebrated a singer whose reach crossed generations, but one review said it leaned too heavily on country music and missed a chance to show how widely her work resonated.
Parton’s songs remain central to her legacy, and her autobiographical musical is scheduled to debut in New York City on Jan.
19, which would have been her 81st birthday.
Country music stars gathered in Nashville on Oct. 21 for a live television tribute to Dolly Parton.
The two-hour special, “CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton,” was held at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts.
Performers included Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Ella Langley, Kelsea Ballerini and Zac Brown.
The program also included a video message from Oprah Winfrey and performances of Parton songs including “Jolene” and “9 to 5.”
Yahoo described the tribute as touching but said it missed an opportunity to reflect the breadth of Parton’s influence beyond country music.
- Who
- Country music stars, friends and admirers of Dolly Parton. Oprah Winfrey also appeared in a video message.
- What
- They honored Parton in the television special “CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton.
- When
- Oct. 21, 2026.
- Where
- Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville.
- Why
- To celebrate Parton’s memory and her impact as a music and cultural figure.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Dolly Parton died from cancer, according to Yahoo.
Country music stars gathered in Nashville for the live television tribute.
Lainey Wilson opened the event with “Night Train to Memphis.
- Venue
- Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts
- City
- Nashville
- Duration
- Two hours
- Opening performance
- Lainey Wilson performed “Night Train to Memphis
- Featured songs
- Jolene” and “9 to 5
2 sources
What people are saying
this is not a memorial; but a celebration of an undeniable force of nature. Dolly was somebody that everyone loved: City, country, young, old.
She represented the essence of being 100 percent who you see yourself to be
I love that she was so generous of heart and so generous of spirit.
Even for a kid who mostly listened to rap music, she was an icon. A superstar in every sense.