The special will air live on Wednesday, Oct. 21 on ABC and Disney+ in the U.S. and internationally and will be available the next day on Hulu
Credit: Jason Kempin/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- The Country Music Association will pay tribute to Dolly Parton with a two-hour tribute
- “Dolly gave Country Music its heart, and giving some of that heart back to her is an incredible honor,” says the project’s executive producer Robert Deaton in a press release statement
- CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton will air live on Wednesday, Oct. 21 on ABC and Disney+ in the U.S. and internationally and will be available the next day on Hulu
Dolly Parton will be honored with a two-hour tribute special.
On Wednesday, Sept. 16, the Country Music Association announced that it will be producing CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton following the “Jolene” hitmaker’s death at 80 on Aug. 25.
Per a press release, the special will be “a joyful, emotional celebration of the artist, songwriter, entertainer, humanitarian and entrepreneur whose music and generosity carried her from the mountains of east Tennessee into the hearts of generations around the world, told through performances, archival footage and personal stories that trace her extraordinary journey to becoming one of the most beloved entertainers and philanthropists in American history.”
At the time of the announcement, performers have yet to be revealed.
“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’s chief executive officer Sarah Trahern said in a statement. “As the organization built to serve and celebrate Country Music, honoring her legacy is not just an opportunity, it is our responsibility. 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.”
The project’s executive producer Robert Deaton also shared what the project has meant to him.
“Dolly gave Country Music its heart, and giving some of that heart back to her is an incredible honor,” he said in a statement. “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.”
According to the press release, the project continues to foster a growing relationship between Belmont University and Parton that previously included the 2025 world premiere of DOLLY: A True Original Musical at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts and the launch of DOLLY U.
Dr. Greg Jones, President of Belmont University, noted in a statement that Parton’s “impact extends far beyond music.”
Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty
“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,” he said. “It was an honor for Belmont to partner with Dolly through the launch of DOLLY U and the world premiere of her musical at the Fisher Center.”
Jones added, “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.”
Alongside the special, CMA and Belmont University will make a donation from proceeds to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
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Future details about the special, including performers, tickets and additional partners, will be announced in the coming weeks. Ticket updates can be found here.
Credit: Jack Manning/The New York Times/Redux
PEOPLE’s Dolly Parton special tribute edition, celebrating the extraordinary life of the beloved entertainer, is available now.
CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton will air live on Wednesday, Oct. 21 on ABC and Disney+ in the U.S. and internationally and will be available the next day on Hulu
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