The Television Academy paid tribute to the remarkable life of Dolly Parton at the 2026 Emmys, led by Sally Field and Reba McEntire. Parton, who won an Emmy in 2021, died Aug. 25 after a battle with cancer.
Field, Parton's "Steel Magnolias" co-star, introduced the segment, reflecting on her time working with the legendary singer. "Over the years, I never stopped loving her," Field said, praising Parton's "blistering sense of humor" and acknowledging her immense impact.
Following Field's introduction, McEntire, a fellow country music superstar, took the stage to perform Parton's song "Appalachian Memories." McEntire was accompanied by a live symphony, and images of Parton were projected onto the stage during the performance.
Days before the ceremony, producers hinted at a special tribute to Parton, with producer Jesse Collins telling Variety that it would be "a very beautiful tribute to Dolly." Country singer Noah Kahan was also scheduled to perform "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" during the In Memoriam segment.
Parton, a celebrated figure in country music and film, had a significant presence in television as well. She received a Primetime Emmy for her role in the 2021 Netflix film "Christmas on the Square" and earned four additional nominations throughout her career. She also made guest appearances on television shows such as "Designing Women," "Hannah Montana," and "The Simpsons," and co-hosted "Miley's New Year's Eve Party" in 2022.
Parton died at the age of 80. Her death followed a private battle with cancer. She was laid to rest in a private ceremony in Nashville next to her late husband, Carl Thomas Dean, who passed away in March 2025.
Parton's cousin, Richie Owens, shared that the memorial was intended to be a small, private affair, as per Parton's wishes. Her sister, Stella Parton, indicated that Dolly preferred to keep her illness private to avoid worrying fans and most of her family.
"She didn't want a lot of the family worried about it," Stella Parton stated in an interview. "Some of us knew, the ones that were closer."