Brandi Carlile Honored Dolly Parton at Today Show
The 11-time Grammy winner performed at Rockefeller Plaza to mark the ten-year anniversary of meeting the country legend.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Country
Brandi Carlile performed four songs at the Today show Concert Series in New York City on September 25, 2026. Her appearance served as a tribute to mark exactly ten years since she first met the late Dolly Parton.
Why it matters
Carlile used the public performance to honor the legacy of Parton, who died in August 2026. The two artists shared a significant professional relationship that included a collaboration on the album Rockstar.
Brandi Carlile is an 11-time Grammy winner who previously curated an all-female lineup for the 2019 Newport Folk Festival. She notably secured Dolly Parton for that event by personally asking her to appear.
The players
Brandi Carlile
She is an 11-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter known for her activism and advocacy for female musicians.
Dolly Parton
The legendary country music icon and philanthropist was raised in a one-room cabin near the Little Pigeon River.
The details
During her set at Rockefeller Plaza, Carlile released the song Returning to Myself (Sad Gay Version). The performance honored the decade-long bond formed when the two musicians first met in 2016.
Timeline
September 25, 2016: Brandi Carlile met Dolly Parton for the first time.
2019: Carlile curated the Newport Folk Festival.
August 2026: Dolly Parton passed away.
September 25, 2026: Carlile performed four songs on the Today show and released a new track.
Industry Dynamics
This performance echoes the inclusive spirit Carlile established at the 2019 Newport Folk Festival all-female lineup. It highlights a broader trend of modern artists leveraging their industry status to cement the historical legacy of country music pioneers.
Fans can listen to the newly released Returning to Myself (Sad Gay Version) on major streaming platforms. The Today show performance provides a public retrospective on the collaborative works shared between the two artists.
The takeaway
Carlile demonstrates how contemporary musicians can actively preserve the history of the industry through tributes and new recordings. Listeners are encouraged to explore the catalog of artists who shaped the country genre to better understand modern musical influences.
Further reading
For more information on the evolving landscape of the genre, visit the Country section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Gay News, LGBT Rights, Politics, Entertainment.
