The CMA’s Dolly Parton tribute special aired Wednesday night, Oct. 21, on ABC, with a lineup that included Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Vince Gill and Kristin Chenoweth. Viewers who missed the two-hour broadcast can still catch the whole thing on demand.
The special, titled “CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton,” aired live from 9 to 11 p.m. EDT on ABC and Disney+ from Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville. It came nearly two months after Parton died Aug. 25 at 80 following a brief battle with cancer.
Where To Stream The Dolly Parton Tribute Special
The full special is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+, according to ABC News. Unlike the live broadcast, the replay doesn’t require a live TV streaming service. A standard Hulu or Disney+ subscription covers it.
At a Glance
- Title: “CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton“
- Aired: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 9-11 p.m. EDT
- Network: ABC, simulcast on Disney+
- Venue: Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, Belmont University, Nashville
- Stream now: Hulu, Disney+
Who Performed
The lineup pulled from every chapter of Parton’s career, from fellow Country Music Hall of Fame members and bluegrass players to Broadway talent and today’s country hitmakers, according to Billboard.
The night opened with “A Few Old Memories,” performed by Molly Tuttle, Béla Fleck, Vince Gill and Ricky Skaggs, JamBase reported. Ella Langley took on “Jolene,” Kelsea Ballerini sang “Here You Come Again” and Ashley McBryde delivered “Coat of Many Colors.”
Lady A revisited “Islands in the Stream,” Parton’s duet with Kenny Rogers, while Lainey Wilson performed “Train, Train.” Carly Pearce and Kristin Chenoweth teamed up for a duet, and Zac Brown sang “Butterfly” alongside Parton’s prerecorded vocals, according to Rolling Stone.
Reba McEntire performed backed by the Belmont Singers, a student ensemble tied to the school’s “Dolly U” program, which teaches students about Parton’s music, business savvy and creative legacy.
The broadcast also featured prerecorded tributes from Oprah Winfrey, Julia Roberts and Sabrina Carpenter, and Katy Perry spoke from the stage.
Carrie Underwood closed the night with “I Will Always Love You,” Parton’s 1974 ballad and the song that gave the special its name. Other performers from the evening joined her onstage near the end.
What’s Next
The tribute also gave back. CMA, Belmont University, The Walt Disney Company and the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp combined for a $1 million donation to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the book-gifting program Parton founded in 1995.
Fans who want more Dolly won’t have to wait long. “Dolly: A True Original Musical” begins Broadway previews Dec. 7 at the St. James Theatre ahead of a Jan. 19, 2027, opening, the date that would have been Parton’s 81st birthday. Katie Rose Clarke will play Parton, with a cast Parton chose herself before her death. Readers can also check out [casting news for the Broadway musical based on her life](EDITOR: insert TAM link).
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