Country Music Association to Honor Dolly Parton With a Two-Hour Tribute Special
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The two-hour tribute is set to air live on Wednesday, Oct. 21, on ABC and Disney+ for viewers in the U.S. and around the world, with the program becoming available on Hulu the following day.
Dolly Parton’s life and legacy will be celebrated in a new two-hour television special from the Country Music Association.
The CMA announced Wednesday, Sept. 16, that it is behind CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton, a tribute to the legendary “Jolene” singer following her death at age 80 on Aug. 25.
According to the organization, the program will honor Parton’s accomplishments as a singer, songwriter, entertainer, humanitarian and entrepreneur. The special will combine live performances, archival material and personal recollections to chronicle her journey from East Tennessee to international stardom and her work as a philanthropist.
Performers for the tribute had not yet been announced at the time of the CMA’s initial announcement.
“Dolly Parton belonged to the whole world, but she was born of this industry, and this industry owes her a debt of gratitude that words alone cannot repay,” CMA CEO Sarah Trahern said in a statement.
Trahern added that celebrating Parton’s contribution is an important responsibility for the organization and described the special as a collective expression of gratitude from the country music community.
“This special is our way of saying thank you, on behalf of every artist, industry member and fan who found a piece of themselves in her music,” she said.
Executive producer Robert Deaton also reflected on the significance of creating a tribute to Parton.
“Dolly gave Country Music its heart, and giving some of that heart back to her is an incredible honor,” Deaton said.
He added that his goal is to present a celebration that respects Parton’s story and music while reflecting the affection felt by those who knew and admired her.
“My hope is simply that we do right by her story, her music and the people who love her, so that this evening feels like the tribute my friend deserves,” he said.
The special is also part of an ongoing relationship between Belmont University and Parton. Their previous collaborations included the 2025 world premiere of DOLLY: A True Original Musical at Belmont’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, along with the launch of DOLLY U.
Belmont University President Dr. Greg Jones said Parton’s influence reaches well beyond her musical career.
“She represents creativity, generosity, entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to lifting others up, qualities that have inspired generations and resonate deeply with Belmont’s mission,” Jones said.
He also highlighted the university’s previous work with Parton, saying it had been an honor to collaborate with her on DOLLY U and the premiere of her musical.
“Now, it is a privilege to welcome artists, friends and fans from around the world to celebrate her extraordinary life and legacy from this stage in Nashville, honoring a woman whose love for Tennessee was woven into everything she did,” Jones added.