All-Star Lineup To Honor Dolly Parton During Upcoming Two-Hour TV Event — Get The Details

The Country Music Association announced the all-star lineup performing in an upcoming two-hour televised special, CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton, on Monday morning (October 5).

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 will perform tributes to Dolly Parton during the show. Amy Grant and Kimberly Williams-Paisley will appear as special guests, and a Belmont University student ensemble will perform as a nod to the "Dolly U" program that launched last year for students to learn from Parton's legacy, according to a CMA press release. Performers were also announced on Good Morning America. The Country Music Association teased additional surprise tributes appearing throughout the televised special.

"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 recent 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."

Parton "died peacefully" on August 25 in Nashville, Tennessee, according to an official announcement at the time. She was 80. Her representatives said in a statement to PEOPLE, "after bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones." Parton was laid to rest in a private service for immediate family beside her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean. Dean died in March 2025. He was 82.

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.