Dolly Parton VMAs Tribute
Kacey Musgraves honors late music icon Dolly Parton with emotional VMAs tribute.
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Kacey Musgraves honored Dolly Parton at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards with a rendition of “I Will Always Love You,” accompanied by archival footage of Parton singing the classic. Musgraves wore a sparkling pink gown inspired by Parton’s signature style, and the tribute came about a month after Parton died at age 80. Musgraves had also celebrated Parton during recent tour stops, performing “Here You Come Again” and “9 to 5” and dedicating “Rainbow” to her. The performance highlighted Parton’s enduring influence as a singer, songwriter and philanthropist.
Key Points
1
Musgraves pre-recorded the tribute in Los Angeles earlier in the week because she had a Middle of Nowhere Tour date at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on the night of the VMAs.
2
Before the song, the archival clip showed Parton joking, “Don’t criticize your wife’s judgment,” then sharing her wish that life would treat viewers kindly and that they would have all they dreamed of.
3
The tribute was Musgraves’s first VMAs performance in five years; she also arrived as a nominee, with “Dry Spell” up for Best Country.
4
At Madison Square Garden, Musgraves described Parton’s death as especially painful amid difficult times, saying, “It’s the closest thing we’ve ever had to royalty.”
5
Musgraves previously praised Parton’s songwriting, wit and fearlessness, and specifically admired her for being an LGBTQ advocate “long before it was even a thing or trendy.”
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