Kacey Musgraves Honors Dolly Parton With Emotional VMA Tribute
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Kacey Musgraves channeled the Queen of Country for a stirring tribute at the VMAs.
On Sunday, September 27th, the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) took over Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater for an evening designed to honor the art of music videos. The annual celebration recognizes music and production from all genres.
Country music showed a strong representation this year, with Ella Langley, Shaboozey, and newcomer Stella Lefty claiming two nominations each. Morgan Wallen, Kacey Musgraves, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, and Tucker Wetmore followed with one nod each.
Snoop Dogg hosted the ceremony, which was simulcast on MTV, CBS, and Paramount+.
However, it was not the coveted Moon Person trophies that had most viewers talking. Kacey Musgraves took the VMA stage to perform an emotional tribute to the late Dolly Parton, who died just a month earlier at the age of 80.
Kacey Musgraves Performs “I Will Always Love You”
When news of Dolly’s death broke, Kacey wrote online, “The world feels a lot less sparkly all of a sudden.”
In memory of the woman who paved the way for so many country artists after her, Kacey performed one of Dolly’s most beloved hits, “I Will Always Love You.” The tribute marked Kacey Musgraves’ first VMAs performance since 2021.
Dolly Parton originally recorded the ballad in 1973. She was inspired to write the song after making the difficult decision to pursue a solo career. It was an emotional farewell to her business partner and mentor, Porter Wagoner.
“I Will Always Love You” has been covered by countless artists over the decades, most famously by Whitney Houston.
Watch Kacey Musgraves perform “I Will Always Love You” in honor of Dolly Parton at the 2026 MTV VMAs below!
