An all-star lineup took the stage to honor Dolly Parton’s life and legacy during the Country Music Association’s trubute show on WEdnesday evening (October 21).

CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton took place at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville, Tennessee. The televised special included performances by Ashley McBryde, Béla Fleck, Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Ella Langley, Kelsea Ballerini, Kristen Bell, Kristin Chenoweth, Lady A, Lainey Wilson, Little Big Town, Lukas Nelson, Molly Tuttle, Reba McEntire, Ricky Skaggs, Sierra Hull, Vince Gill and Zac Brown, plus appearances by Amy Grant, Kimberly Williams-Paisley and more (see the red carpet looks here).

McEntire remembered Parton as “one of the greatest people I have ever been blessed to know. …Tonight is a celebration of Dolly’s heart, her kindness, her generosity, her faith, her humor and the way she has always seemed to understand that the greatest thing you can be in this world is exactly who God made you to be.”

Here’s the full list of performances, per the Country Music Association:

Vince Gill feat. Béla Fleck, Ricky Skaggs & Molly Tuttle – “A Few Old Memories”
Lainey Wilson feat. Béla Fleck, Ricky Skaggs & Molly Tuttle – “Train, Train”
Ashley McBryde – “Coat of Many Colors”
Ella Langley – “Jolene”
Kelsea Ballerini – “Here You Come Again”
Darius Rucker – “Two Doors Down”
Carly Pearce and Kristin Chenoweth – “9 to 5”
Lady A – “Islands in the Stream”
Lukas Nelson with Lainey Wilson – “You Can’t Make Old Friends”
Little Big Town – “Light of a Clear Blue Morning”
Reba McEntire with Belmont Singers – “He’s Alive”
Zac Brown (Vocal Duet with Dolly Parton) – “Butterfly”
Brad Paisley feat. Sierra Hull – “When I Get Where I’m Going”
Carrie Underwood with Full Cast – “I Will Always Love You”

Parton “died peacefully” in Nashville, according to an official announcement on August 25. She was 80. The announcement stated that Parton was “a beloved singer, songwriter, philanthropist, actress, playwright, and author.” She passed away “after bravely facing a brief battle with cancer,” her representatives confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE on August 25. The “I Will Always Love You” legend was laid to rest beside her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025. He was 82.

The Country Music Association announced on Thursday morning (October 22) that, along with Belmont University, The Walt Disney Company and the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, $1 million was donated to Parton’s Imagination Library. Parton started the beloved initiative in 1995. It has since provided more than 343 million books to children. Jeff Conyers, President & Vice Chair, The Dollywood Foundation, said in a press release, “Last night’s celebration was a beautiful reminder of how Dolly spent her life bringing joy to people through her music and encouraging them to believe in their dreams.”

Gill remembered Parton as “an undeniable force of nature.” Before he introduced Underwood to the stage to deliver a powerful finale performance, Gill said, “Dolly was somebody that everyone loved. She appealed to everybody. City, country, young, old… That quality and her ability to bring people together from every walk of life is so very, very rare. It’s so very, very needed these days.”

CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton aired live on Wednesday evening on ABC and Disney+. The full special is now available to stream on Hulu.

Scroll below to watch some of the performances in Parton’s honor.

Concerts