When Dolly Parton died on Aug. 25 at age 80, the world mourned the loss of not only a music superstar, but also one of country music’s best global ambassadors, a singular vocal stylist, a vivid songcrafter, a multi-faceted entertainer, a limitless dreamer–and, for many, a moral compass.
On Oct. 21, country music artists gathered at Belmont University in Nashville to honor Parton’s life and career, as part of CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton. As much as the evening’s performances honored Parton’s enduring music, the speeches and heartfelt words from various artists honored the East Tennessee native’s fearless brand of love for humanity.
Reba McEntire welcomed the audience to what she called a “celebration of one of the greatest people I’ve ever been blessed to know.” She also called the evening a “celebration of her heart, kindness, generosity, faith and humor.”
“The greatest thing you can be in this world is exactly who God made you to be…she showed up as Dolly completely, joyfully… unapologetically,” McEntire said, adding, “She became hope, possibility to the little girl growing up with nothing… to the person who felt different and wondered if there was a place in the world for them… she made people believe there was room for them… she made you feel welcome, she made them feel seen.”
“This was a celebration of an undeniable force of nature,” Vince Gill would say of Parton later on in the evening. “Her ability to bring people together from all walks of life is so needed these days.”
A cavalcade of artists, including McEntire, Gill, Ella Langley, Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce, Kristin Chenoweth, Carrie Underwood, Lady A, Darius Rucker, and more joined forces to honor the life, career and philanthropic impact Parton’s career has had. Videos chronicled her career journey, from her early work with Porter Wagoner, to her breakthrough solo hits such as “Here You Come Again” and defining musical works such as “I Will Always Love You” and “Jolene,” to her starring roles in films such as 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias.
Throughout the evening, the stage overflowed with imagery that paid tribute to Parton, including videos and photos of her work with artists including Kenny Rogers, Porter Wagoner, George Jones, Zac Brown, and many others. The stage was filled with flowers, and lit with Parton’s signature butterfly imagery.
Beyond the evening’s performers and presenters, video tributes poured in from Oprah Winfrey, Julia Roberts, Sabrina Carpenter, Goldie Hawn, and U2’s Bono.
Following the star-studded tribute, the Country Music Association, in collaboration with Belmont University, The Walt Disney Company and the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp revealed that its previously-announced commitment to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has resulted in a combined donation of $1 million.
Here, Billboard ranks each of the night’s performances, from good to great.
