Two months after the death of Dolly Parton at the age of 80, the Country Music Association honored the late icon with a two-hour prime-time tribute special on ABC on October 21 — CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton — with 20 stars performing live from Nashville.
The Tribute Special
CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton aired live on October 21, 2026, from 9 to 11 p.m. EDT on ABC and Disney+, and arrived on Hulu the following day. The two-hour prime-time special played before a live audience at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Belmont University in Nashville. Proceeds from the evening benefited Parton's Imagination Library.
Who Performed
Twenty performers took the stage across the night, including Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Lainey Wilson, Vince Gill, Kelsea Ballerini, Little Big Town, Darius Rucker, Zac Brown, Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde, Ella Langley, Kristen Bell, Kristin Chenoweth, Molly Tuttle, Ricky Skaggs, Sierra Hull, Béla Fleck, Lady A and Lukas Nelson, with special guests Amy Grant and Kimberly Williams-Paisley alongside a Belmont student ensemble.
Ella Langley delivered one of the night's most talked-about moments with her performance of "Jolene", while Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood and Lainey Wilson were among the evening's standout voices celebrating Dolly's songbook.
Dolly's Legacy
Dolly Parton died on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80, closing a career that spanned six decades as a singer, songwriter, actress, author and philanthropist. From "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You" to "9 To 5", her songbook, screen roles and humanitarian work made her one of the most beloved figures in American music. Tributes have continued to pour in since her passing, from Miley Cyrus's emotional Hollywood Bowl tribute to Dolly to the news that Taylor Swift dedicates VMA win to Dolly Parton. For a deeper look at her life, see our Dolly Parton biography.
Watch the Official Video
Watch Dolly Parton's iconic "9 To 5", performed in tribute at the CMA special.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the CMA tribute to Dolly Parton air?
The special aired live on October 21, 2026, from 9 to 11 p.m. EDT on ABC and Disney+, and streamed on Hulu the following day.
Who performed at the CMA Dolly Parton tribute?
Twenty stars performed, including Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Ella Langley, Brad Paisley, Lainey Wilson, Vince Gill, Kelsea Ballerini and Lady A, with Amy Grant and Kimberly Williams-Paisley appearing as special guests.
How did Dolly Parton die?
Dolly Parton passed away on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80, two months before the tribute special honored her life and music.
What is the Imagination Library?
It is the literacy program founded by Dolly Parton that gifts free books to young children, and proceeds from the CMA tribute special went to support it.
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