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The Country Music Association will honor Dolly Parton with a two-hour television event next month.
CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton “will be a joyful, emotional celebration of the artist, songwriter, entertainer, humanitarian and entrepreneur whose music and generosity carried her from the mountains of east Tennessee into the hearts of generations around the world, told through performances, archival footage and personal stories that trace her extraordinary journey to becoming one of the most beloved entertainers and philanthropists in American history,” according to the Country Music Association’s announcement on Wednesday morning (September 16).
Parton’s representatives confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE on August 25, “after bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones.” She was 80. The country music community and many others shared emotional tributes to honor Parton, who opted to keep her cancer battle private. Parton has since been laid to rest in a private service for immediate family beside husband Carl Dean. Parton and Dean were married for nearly six decades. Dean died in March 2025. He was 82.
“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,” Sarah Trahern, CMA CEO, said in a statement. “As the organization built to serve and celebrate Country Music, honoring her legacy is not just an opportunity, it is our responsibility. 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.”
CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton, executive produced by Robert Deaton, will be filmed live at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, a theater located on Belmont University’s campus in Nashville, Tennessee. It’s also the venue where Parton debuted her autobiographical musical last year. The production is set to open on Broadway in New York City this winter. Parton’s relationship with Belmont University also included launching DOLLY U, “an immersive educational partnership designed to connect students with hands-on opportunities in entertainment, media and creative industries. Through that collaboration, students worked alongside professional artists, producers and industry leaders while helping bring Parton's vision to life,” according to CMA’s press release on Wednesday.
“Dolly gave Country Music its heart, and giving some of that heart back to her is an incredible honor,” Deaton said in a statement. “My hope is simply that we do right by her story, her music and the people who love her, so that this evening feels like the tribute my friend deserves.”
Dr. Greg Jones, President of Belmont University, added in a statement of his own: “Dolly Parton’s impact extends far beyond music. She represents creativity, generosity, entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to lifting others up, qualities that have inspired generations and resonate deeply with Belmont’s mission. It was an honor for Belmont to partner with Dolly through the launch of DOLLY U and the world premiere of her musical at the Fisher Center. Now, it is a privilege to welcome artists, friends and fans from around the world to celebrate her extraordinary life and legacy from this stage in Nashville, honoring a woman whose love for Tennessee was woven into everything she did.”
The Country Music Association will announce additional details about the special — including performers, tickets and more — at a later date.
CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton will air live on Wednesday, October 21 (9:00-11:00 PM/EDT) on ABC and Disney+. It will be available to stream the following day on Hulu.