Dolly Parton was Kacey Musgraves’ hero, and that admiration, combined with Kacey’s gorgeous voice, made her tribute to the country icon at the 2026 VMAs so poignant. Archival footage of Dolly featured in the “I Will Always Love You” performance, showcasing her incredible talent and warmth. Dolly began singing in the archival video, and then Kacey expertly harmonised with her, before the Texan took the song into her own version. The arrangement with a lone piano part was so perfect, as it brought Kacey’s emotive voice to the fore.
Kacey took a vulnerable and dynamic approach to the vocal. She didn’t try to sing like Dolly’s full band version, instead letting the emotion of the song stand with simplicity. You really couldn’t ask for more in a Dolly tribute. It was clear that Kacey loved Dolly and her music deeply, and understood how to present it authentically on stage. The Music Man has to say that Dolly Parton’s music lives on in performances like this!
Kacey Musgraves’ VMAs tribute to Dolly is on YouTube, where viewers praised the performance and the way she harmonised with Dolly’s archival vocals before taking the lead.
There have been a number of Dolly Parton tributes from big-name artists, which just goes to show how much respect the country icon has in the industry. One of the most memorable tributes came when Dolly’s longtime friend Reba McEntire sang “Appalachian Memories” at the 78th Emmys. The song choice really goes to show what a fan Reba is of Dolly, as it’s such a deep cut. And it was just perfect to celebrate Dolly’s life and career.
Dolly wrote and sang many hits over her career. “I Will Always Love You” sits in a curious place in Dolly’s career, as the Tennessee star wrote and recorded it, but many people think of the smash hit Whitney Houston version when they hear the song title.
Dolly’s country arrangement for “I Will Always Love You” topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart twice, first in 1974 and again in 1982 with a re-recording.
Whitney’s 1992 version featured as the lead single from The Bodyguard soundtrack. This version became one of the biggest-selling singles of all time, shifting 24 million units worldwide.