CMA Announces Two-Hour Tribute Special for Dolly Parton — “I Will Always Love You”
Some goodbyes are never big enough for the people we are saying goodbye to.
Following the death of Dolly Parton at age 80 on Aug. 25, the country music world is preparing to come together for an extraordinary two-hour celebration of the life, music, generosity and legacy of one of its most beloved figures.
On Wednesday, Sept. 16, the Country Music Association announced that it will produce CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton, a special designed not simply to remember Dolly, but to celebrate everything she gave to country music and to generations of people around the world.
According to the announcement, the special will be a “joyful, emotional celebration” of Parton as an artist, songwriter, entertainer, humanitarian and entrepreneur. Through performances, archival footage and personal stories, it will trace her extraordinary journey from the mountains of East Tennessee to international stardom—and ultimately to a place in the hearts of millions.
At the time of the announcement, performers had not yet been revealed.
But even before a single name was announced, the meaning behind the evening was already clear.
“Our Way of Saying Thank You”
For the Country Music Association, honoring Dolly Parton is more than a ceremonial tribute. It is a chance for the industry she helped shape to express its gratitude.
“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.
She described honoring Parton’s legacy as a responsibility for an organization created to serve and celebrate country music.
“This special is our way of saying thank you,” Trahern added, speaking on behalf of artists, industry members and fans who discovered pieces of themselves in Dolly’s music.
And perhaps that is what makes this particular farewell so meaningful.
Dolly’s songs were never simply songs.
They became memories.
They became family stories, heartbreak anthems, wedding songs, road-trip soundtracks and words of comfort during difficult times. Her voice could make a deeply personal story feel universal, allowing listeners from completely different backgrounds to recognize something of themselves in her music.
“Dolly Gave Country Music Its Heart”
Executive producer Robert Deaton also reflected on the responsibility of creating the tribute.
“Dolly gave Country Music its heart, and giving some of that heart back to her is an incredible honor,” he said.
His hope, he explained, is to tell Dolly’s story in a way that respects both the woman and the music that made her such a beloved figure.
“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,” Deaton said.
Those words capture the challenge facing any celebration of Dolly Parton.
How do you summarize a life that reached so far beyond a recording studio or concert stage?
She was a songwriter whose words traveled across generations. She was a performer who transformed her unmistakable image into a global brand. She was an entrepreneur, philanthropist and advocate for literacy whose influence extended far beyond entertainment.
And beneath all of it was the girl from East Tennessee who never completely disappeared.
From East Tennessee to the World
The special will also continue the relationship between Belmont University and Parton, a partnership 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.
Belmont University President Dr. Greg Jones emphasized that Parton’s influence cannot be measured solely by her musical achievements.
“Her impact extends far beyond music,” Jones said, pointing to her creativity, generosity, entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to lifting others up.
For Belmont, the upcoming tribute represents another opportunity to celebrate those qualities.
“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,” Jones said, highlighting Dolly’s deep connection to Tennessee.
That connection has always been an essential part of her story.
No matter how far her career carried her, Dolly Parton remained closely associated with the mountains, people and culture of the place where her journey began.
A Legacy That Will Keep Giving
The tribute will carry a purpose beyond the stage as well.
CMA and Belmont University will make a donation from proceeds to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, extending the spirit of generosity that became one of the defining parts of Dolly’s legacy.
It is a fitting gesture.
For decades, Dolly used her success to create opportunities for others, particularly children and families. Her legacy was never limited to records sold or awards collected. It was also measured in books placed into children’s hands, dreams encouraged and lives touched by acts of kindness.
Now, even as the music industry prepares to say goodbye, that work will continue.
Future details about the special—including performers, tickets and additional partners—are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
And when the night finally arrives, the stage in Nashville will become more than a television set.
It will become a gathering place for memories.
For songs.
For stories.
For laughter and tears.
For the countless people who grew up with Dolly Parton’s voice somewhere in the background of their lives.
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, with the special becoming available the following day on Hulu.
The title itself may be the most fitting farewell imaginable.
Because Dolly Parton spent a lifetime writing songs about love, loss, hope and human connection.
And now, as country music gathers to remember her, those who knew her work—and those who simply loved her—will have one more chance to say the words her music made famous:
I will always love you.