The Country Music Association will honor Dolly Parton with a two-hour live television special this fall celebrating her life, music, and legacy. More Entertainment News
“CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton” will air live Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 9 to 11 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+ in the U.S. and internationally. The special will be available the following day on Hulu.
The tribute follows Parton’s passing on Aug. 25 and will celebrate her career as an artist, songwriter, entertainer, humanitarian and entrepreneur. The program will feature performances, archival footage and personal stories tracing Parton’s journey from East Tennessee to becoming one of the most recognizable figures in American entertainment.
The special will be filmed live at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Belmont University in Nashville as part of a partnership between CMA and Belmont. Robert Deaton will serve as executive producer.
“Dolly Parton belonged to the whole world, but she was born of this industry, and this industry owes her a debt of gratitude that words alone cannot repay,” CMA CEO Sarah Trahern said in a release. “This special is our way of saying thank you, on behalf of every artist, industry member and fan who found a piece of themselves in her music.”
Deaton said the goal is to honor Parton’s music and story in a way that reflects what she meant to fans and the country music community.
“Dolly gave Country Music its heart, and giving some of that heart back to her is an incredible honor,” Deaton said.
The tribute also continues Belmont University’s relationship with Parton. The university hosted the 2025 world premiere of “DOLLY: A True Original Musical” at the Fisher Center and worked with Parton on DOLLY U, an educational initiative that gave students hands-on opportunities in entertainment, media and creative industries.
Belmont President Dr. Greg Jones said Parton’s influence extended beyond music through her creativity, generosity and entrepreneurial spirit.
As part of the television special, CMA and Belmont University will donate a portion of proceeds to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which provides free books to children. Disney will also support the program’s mission.
Performers, ticket information and additional partners for the Oct. 21 special will be announced in the coming weeks. Sign up for updates here.
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