Wednesday night · Live on ABC
How To Watch The CMA Tribute To Dolly Parton
Country music’s biggest stars are coming together to honor Dolly in CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton, a two-hour special airing live from Belmont University’s Fisher Center in Nashville.
- When: Wednesday, October 21, 8–10 p.m. CT (9–11 p.m. ET)
- Where to watch: ABC and Disney+, then streaming on Hulu the next day
- Who’s performing: Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Lainey Wilson, Ella Langley, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Brad Paisley, Kelsea Ballerini, Carly Pearce, Little Big Town, Darius Rucker, Béla Fleck and more, with special guests Amy Grant and Kimberly Williams-Paisley
- For a good cause: proceeds from the special will support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
How to watch tonight’s tribute · See the full lineup · Watch the emotional trailer
Streams Thursday on Hulu and Disney+
Missed The CMA Tribute To Dolly Parton?
Country music’s biggest stars honored Dolly in CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton, a two-hour special broadcast live from Belmont University’s Fisher Center in Nashville.
- Stream it: on Hulu and Disney+, starting Thursday, October 22
- Who performed: Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Lainey Wilson, Ella Langley, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Brad Paisley, Kelsea Ballerini, Carly Pearce, Little Big Town, Darius Rucker, Béla Fleck and more, with special guests Amy Grant and Kimberly Williams-Paisley
- For a good cause: proceeds from the special support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Dolly Parton's Most-Read Stories
Dolly Parton Facts
Full Name: Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean
Birth Date: January 19, 1946
Death Date: August 25, 2026
Birthplace: Pittman Center, Tennessee
Spouse: Carl Thomas Dean (July 20, 1942 - March 3, 2025)
Grand Ole Opry: First appearance in 1959, at age 13. Member since 1969
Country No. 1 Hits: 25 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart
Grammy Awards: 10 wins from 55 nominations, plus a Lifetime Achievement Award (2011)
Hall of Fame Honors: Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (1986), Country Music Hall of Fame (1999), Songwriters Hall of Fame (2001), Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2022)
Who Was Dolly Parton?
Dolly Parton was one of the most beloved and influential entertainers in American history. A singer, songwriter, actress, author, philanthropist, and businesswoman, the East Tennessee native spent decades entertaining audiences with her unmistakable voice, larger-than-life personality, and gift for storytelling.
Dolly Parton’s Childhood
Dolly Parton was born in a one-room cabin in Pittman Center, Tennessee, a small town located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. She was the fourth of 12 children born to Avie Lee Carolina and Robert Lee Parton.
Dolly often reflected on her childhood, recalling fond memories despite her family's poverty.
"Everybody around us lived the same way, but you don't think about that until you're away," Parton told The Guardian in 2024. "We had good parents, but we didn't have all the big luxuries that I'm able to afford now ... The only thing I regret is that my parents had a hard time, but they never complained ... That's made me who I am, so I'm grateful.”
Dolly drew from her childhood experiences for many of her songs, including “Coat of Many Colors.” The 1971 hit told the true story of how Dolly’s family found richness in the midst of poverty through a coat her mother pieced together from fabric scraps.
According to Dolly, she proudly wore the coat to school only to be ridiculed and bullied by the other children. It marked a painful time in her life, but she found healing when she penned the now-iconic lines, “One is only poor, only if they choose to be” and “I know we had no money, but I was rich as I could be, in my coat of many colors my mama made for me.”
Meet Dolly's Family
Dolly's Marriage To Carl Dean
Dolly arguably accomplished more in her career than any other artist or entertainer. She earned countless awards and hall-of-fame inductions and built an empire, all while generously sharing her success through philanthropic efforts such as her Imagination Library and donations to numerous charities.
But perhaps Dolly’s greatest accomplishment was her marriage to Carl Dean. The couple was married for nearly 59 years at the time of Carl’s death in 2025. The success of her marriage is unprecedented in an industry where divorce is rampant.
Dolly met her future husband on her first day in Nashville in 1964. Dolly, who was 18 at the time, was at the Wishy Washy Laundromat when Carl drove by and noticed her. He stopped and struck up a conversation, sparking an instant connection that lasted more than 60 years.
(Photo Credit: Dolly Parton / Facebook)
The two married two years after their first meeting. Carl lived a notoriously private life while Dolly’s career soared and she grew into one of the world's biggest stars. But the pair made the most of their time together when Dolly wasn’t on the road.
Dolly once shared that she and Carl enjoyed trips in their camper and picnics by the river, and credited their marriage's success to a shared sense of humor and mutual respect.
Dolly and Carl never had children, by no choice of her own. The singer had a partial hysterectomy at 36 due to severe endometriosis. The procedure left her unable to have children, but she was very involved in the lives of her nieces and nephews, who affectionately called her “Aunt Granny.”
Carl Dean died on March 3, 2025, at the age of 82. Following Carl’s death, Dolly released a song titled “If You Hadn’t Been There.” She dedicated the song to Carl, saying, “He will always be the star of my story.”
Meet Dolly's Husband, Carl Dean
Dolly's Songs & Stories
Dolly Parton wrote more than 3,000 songs over the course of her life. A handful of them became part of American life, and they’re the ones every fan knows by heart.
“I Will Always Love You” (1974)
Dolly wrote it in 1973 as her goodbye to Porter Wagoner, her longtime duet partner and mentor, when she left his show to go solo. It hit No. 1 on the country chart in 1974 and again in 1982. Whitney Houston’s 1992 version went on to become one of the best-selling singles of all time.
“Jolene” (1973)
The song started with a red-headed bank teller who paid a little too much attention to Dolly’s new husband, Carl. She took the name from a young fan who asked for her autograph. Near the end of her life, Dolly picked the story back up with “Son Of Jolene,” one of her final songs, recorded with Belles.
“Coat Of Many Colors” (1971)
This is her most personal song. It tells the true story of a coat her mother sewed from rags and the classmates who laughed at it. Dolly often called it her favorite of everything she wrote.
“9 To 5” (1980)
She wrote it for the film of the same name, where she starred alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. In early 1981, it reached No. 1 on both the pop and country charts and earned her an Oscar nomination. The song also gave fans a date to celebrate. Written as 9/25, September 25 is now a day to honor her, and California has made it an official annual observance.
“Islands In The Stream” (1983)
Written by the Bee Gees, her duet with Kenny Rogers went to No. 1 on both the country and pop charts.
“Here You Come Again” (1977)
Her breakthrough pop crossover hit won her first Grammy, for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female.
“Hard Candy Christmas” (1982)
Dolly recorded it for the film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. It remains a holiday favorite, and artists still return to it.
Together, these songs show how far her writing reached. She wrote about a goodbye to a mentor, a plea to another woman, a childhood memory, a workplace anthem, and a quiet Christmas ballad. She moved from country radio to the pop charts and onto the movie screen without losing the storytelling at the heart of every song.
Dolly Parton's Most Iconic Songs
Dolly's Awards & Accomplishments
With a career spanning more than six decades, Dolly became one of the most recognizable names in entertainment. From writing some of country music’s most beloved songs to starring in hit movies and building a successful business empire, she accomplished more than most artists could ever dream of.
Her songwriting credits include classics like “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and “I Will Always Love You.” The latter became an international hit when Whitney Houston recorded her version for "The Bodyguard" soundtrack in 1992.
Over the years, Dolly earned numerous honors, including 10 Grammy Awards and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, a recognition of her influence that stretches far beyond country music. She also received the National Medal of Arts and the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors.
(Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images)
Dolly made her film debut in “9 to 5,” starring alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. The movie became a hit, and Dolly's title song earned her two Grammy Awards. She went on to star in other films, including "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" and "Steel Magnolias."
Dolly also made her mark as a businesswoman. She helped establish Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, turning her love for the Smoky Mountains into a major tourist destination that brings visitors from all over the world. Her business ventures created jobs and helped support the community she always called home.
Her accomplishments continued into the 2020s. In 2023, she released Rockstar, an ambitious rock album featuring collaborations with some of the music industry's biggest names. The project introduced her to new audiences while showing longtime fans that she was still willing to try something different.
Beyond the trophies and chart-topping hits, Dolly's influence can be seen in the generations of artists she inspired. She opened doors for women in country music, built a catalog of songs that have stood the test of time and used her success to give back through projects like her Imagination Library.
In addition to being a legendary songwriter, award-winning performer, successful entrepreneur, actress, and philanthropist, one of Dolly’s greatest accomplishments was her ability to stay true to herself.
Dolly Parton's Philanthropy
Behind Dolly Parton’s rhinestones and hit songs was a woman whose generosity made a lasting difference in the lives of millions of people. From putting books into children's hands to helping families in times of crisis, Dolly spent decades proving that her heart was just as big as her voice.
One of her most meaningful projects was Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. She launched the Imagination Library in 1995 in honor of her father, Robert Lee Parton, who was a hardworking and intelligent man who never learned to read or write. Dolly saw firsthand how that affected his life, and she wanted to make sure other children had access to books and the opportunity to learn.
By October 2026, the program had gifted more than 340 million books from her home county in Tennessee to Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland.
The Imagination Library was just one part of Dolly’s philanthropic legacy.
RELATED: DOLLY PARTON'S "GENERATIONAL" GIFT TRANSFORMS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
Through the Dollywood Foundation, Dolly supported education and helped create opportunities for young people. Her commitment to helping others was personal and rooted in the struggles she witnessed growing up in a large family in rural Tennessee.
In 2016, when devastating wildfires swept through the Smoky Mountains, Dolly established the My People Fund to help families who lost their homes. Dolly also supported medical research and disaster relief. In 2020, she donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to support COVID-19 research.
RELATED: DOLLY PARTON DONATES $2 MILLION TO HURRICANE HELENE RELIEF EFFORTS
Throughout her career, Dolly consistently used her success and influence to support causes she believed in, especially those that helped children, families, and the communities she called home.
Dolly Parton's legacy will always include the songs that have touched generations of fans. But it also lives on in the families she helped, the children who discovered a love of reading, and the communities that found hope during difficult times.
Dolly's Giving & Charities
Dolly Parton's Death and Legacy
Dolly Parton died in Nashville on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at the age of 80. Her nephew, Brian Seaver, shared the news on behalf of Dolly's family. Her publicist later said she had faced a brief battle with cancer. Her family said a small, private service would be held for close family. She had lost her husband, Carl Dean, the year before. His death at 82 was announced in March 2025. They had been married for nearly 59 years.
Tributes poured in from around the world. The Grand Ole Opry put her name on its outdoor marquee and planned a formal tribute that Saturday. Flags around the country flew at half-staff for a full week following her death.
Those who knew and loved Dolly honored her with powerful tributes through songs and stories, many of which had never been heard before.
Her family said that they and her team would work to preserve her legacy for years to come.
More on Dolly's Legacy
Dolly Quotes
“A loose tongue can lead to broken teeth.”
"If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one.”
“People say, ‘How you stay looking so young?’ I say, ‘Well, good lighting, good doctors, and good makeup.’"
“I always count my blessings more than I count my money. I don’t work for money, never did.”
“Everybody’s life is a soap opera. Everybody’s life is a country western song, depends on who’s writing it.”
“I tried every diet in the book. I tried some that weren’t in the book. I tried eating the book. It tasted better than most of the diets.”
"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you've got to put up with the rain!”
