Kacey Musgraves Retired I Will Always Love You
The singer-songwriter performed the track as a tribute but said it is likely her final time covering the song.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Country
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Kacey Musgraves announced she will likely not perform I Will Always Love You again following her recent tribute to Dolly Parton. She performed the song during the 2026 VMAs.
Why it matters
Musgraves opted to retire the track because the vocal performance required for the song presents a significant challenge. She performed it initially to show respect for Dolly Parton.
Kacey Musgraves performed the tribute at the 2026 VMAs and concurrently held a show at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena that same evening.
The players
Kacey Musgraves
Kacey Musgraves is a country music singer and songwriter who is currently headlining the Middle of Nowhere Tour.
Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton is an iconic country music legend and the original singer of I Will Always Love You.
The details
Musgraves chose to take on the song as a personal challenge during her public tribute to Dolly Parton. She is currently on the Middle of Nowhere Tour, where the song has now been sidelined from future performances.
Timeline
Kacey Musgraves performed the tribute at the 2026 VMAs.
Industry Dynamics
The 2026 VMAs served as a major platform for this vocal tribute, highlighting how artists frequently use high-profile awards broadcasts to test difficult covers before determining their long-term viability. This decision marks a departure from standard tour practices where tribute performances are often kept in the setlist for duration of a tour cycle.
Fans attending the ongoing Middle of Nowhere Tour should not expect to hear the tribute song in upcoming setlists. The performance remains viewable via recordings from the 2026 VMAs broadcast.
The takeaway
Difficult vocal covers are often kept to one-time special events rather than becoming a permanent part of a touring schedule. Recognizing the technical limits of a song is a standard practice for managing vocal health during long concert tours.
Further reading
Explore more trends and news in Country music on our site.
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