Here’s Why The Emmy Awards Paid Tribute to Dolly Parton
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The 78th Annual Emmy Awards Honors Dolly Parton
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards took place Monday (September 14), at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California. The ceremony is one of the biggest nights in television, celebrating the talented actors, writers and directors behind some of the year’s most acclaimed shows.
One of the night’s most special moments came when Reba McEntire took the stage to honor her late friend and country music legend, Dolly Parton. News of Dolly’s death sent shockwaves around the world after she died following a brief battle with cancer.
Wearing an elegant all-white gown and performing on a heavenly, cloud-filled stage, Reba delivered an incredibly emotional rendition of Dolly’s iconic “Appalachian Memories.” The moment was especially meaningful as Dolly originally performed that song at the 1983 Emmy Awards.
You can watch Reba’s beautiful performance below.
Why Was Dolly Parton Honored During The Emmys?
While the Emmys primarily celebrates those who work in television, Dolly was honored for reasons that may surprise many fans.
Dolly had a long history with the Emmys, earning her first nomination in 1978 for Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Variety or Music for her appearance on Cher’s television special, Cher… Special.
The “Jolene” singer also earned an Outstanding Television Movie nomination in 2017 for Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love, which she executive produced. Three years later, she received another nomination in the same category for executive producing the Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings episode “These Old Bones.”
Dolly ultimately took home her first and only Emmy in 2021, winning Outstanding Television Movie as an executive producer of Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square.
She received her final Emmy nomination in 2023 for Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas, which was also nominated for Outstanding Television Movie.
Dolly’s connection to television went far beyond her Emmy nominations as well. She headlined her own variety series, Dolly, which ran in syndication from 1976 to 1977 and later returned to ABC from 1987 to 1988. She also became a familiar face on television through guest appearances on shows including Designing Women, Grace and Frankie, The Simpsons, Reba and Hannah Montana.
