Stars Will Honor Dolly Parton in October Special

The two-hour tribute to Dolly Parton will air on ABC and Disney+ on October 21.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Country

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of an acoustic guitar leaning against an empty chair, evoking the quiet legacy of a musician. — ABC and the Country Music Association announced an October 21 television special honoring the late Dolly Parton following her death in August. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Country Music Association and ABC announced the performance lineup for CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton. The television special honors the legendary musician, who died at age 80 on August 25, and will air on October 21.

Why it matters

The special commemorates the life and career of the iconic singer following her recent death from cancer-related complications. It brings together several generations of country music talent to celebrate her enduring influence on the industry.

The two-hour special will be broadcast from the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at 9 p.m. ET. It features performances by Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, and Zac Brown, alongside a student ensemble from Belmont University.

The players

Dolly Parton

She was a legendary country music singer and songwriter whose career spanned decades of hits.

Reba McEntire

She is a celebrated country music artist and television personality set to perform during the tribute.

Carrie Underwood

She is a multi-platinum country music star who will contribute a performance to the event.

Zac Brown

He is a prominent country musician and band leader included in the special lineup.

Robert Deaton

He serves as the executive producer for the televised musical tribute special.

The details

Executive producer Robert Deaton oversaw the assembly of the tribute, which was revealed publicly on Good Morning America. The broadcast will feature various musical performances and additional surprise guests who have yet to be named.

August 25: Dolly Parton died of cancer-related complications.
October 5: The lineup for the tribute special was announced.
October 21: The special airs on ABC and Disney+ at 9 p.m. ET.
October 22: The special becomes available to stream on Hulu.

Industry Dynamics

The event continues the industry tradition of staging high-profile televised tributes for deceased legends, following the format of the 2023 CMA Awards broadcast. These programs highlight the strategic importance of prestige content in the ongoing battle between network television and streaming platforms.

Viewers can watch the broadcast live on ABC or Disney+ on the evening of October 21. Those unable to watch the premiere can access the full two-hour program via Hulu starting on October 22.

The takeaway

The special offers a definitive retrospective of the artist's immense contributions to music history. Fans can look forward to honoring her legacy through the curated performances scheduled throughout the two-hour tribute.