GMA Dove Awards Honored Dolly Parton
The 57th annual ceremony in Nashville featured a musical tribute to the late icon.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Religious
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The 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards honored the late Dolly Parton with a tribute performance at Bridgestone Arena. The ceremony highlighted her faith and collaborations with the Christian music community following her death on Aug. 25.
Why it matters
The tribute recognized Parton for her significant influence on the Christian music community and her deep personal faith. She was also celebrated posthumously for her work in the bluegrass genre.
The 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards honored Dolly Parton with the bluegrass song of the year award for 'Broken Angels' with The Grascals. Phil Wickham secured three prizes during the event, including artist of the year.
The players
Dolly Parton
She was a legendary singer-songwriter who passed away following a battle with cancer.
Amy Grant
She is a prominent contemporary Christian music singer who performed at the tribute.
Natalie Grant
She is a contemporary Christian music artist who joined the tribute performance.
Phil Wickham
He is a Christian music artist who received three awards at this year's ceremony.
Tauren Wells
He is a Christian pop artist who served as the host for the 57th annual event.
The details
The tribute segment featured video clips of Parton and a live performance of 'How Great Thou Art' by Amy Grant and Natalie Grant. The performance was accompanied by a string section and piano during the event, which was hosted by Tauren Wells.
Timeline
Dolly Parton passed away on Aug. 25.
The 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards took place on Oct. 6.
The awards aired on TBN and SiriusXM on Oct. 9.
An encore presentation will air on Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET.
Industry Dynamics
The tribute at the 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards followed a pattern set by previous memorial performances for country music icons. The ceremony serves as the primary institutional vehicle for recognizing the intersection of faith and popular music in the American industry.
The awards ceremony was broadcast on TBN, TBN+, and SiriusXM starting on Oct. 9. Viewers can watch the encore presentation on TBN or TBN+ on Oct. 16 to see the complete tribute performance.
The takeaway
Dolly Parton's legacy remains deeply intertwined with the Christian music community through her charitable work and faith-based songwriting. Fans can continue to appreciate her contributions through the awards programs and encore broadcasts currently circulating.
What happens next
An encore presentation of the awards will air on TBN and TBN+ on Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET.
Further reading
For more news from the industry, visit the Religious section.
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