Jamie Lee Curtis became visibly emotional during the 2026 Emmy Awards' "In Memoriam" segment as she paid tribute to director Rob Reiner.
Noah Kahan performed Simon & Garfunkel's 1970 song "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" while images of recently deceased television professionals were displayed at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Curtis then took the stage to honor Reiner, who died in December 2025 alongside his wife, Michele, after they were fatally stabbed in their home.
"He was generous and kind, and funny as hell, and a friend to all, and we all miss Rob and Michele, and all those we lost this year," Curtis said, her voice trembling.
The montage also included tributes to Hayden Panettiere, James Van Der Beek, Sam Neill, Eric Dane, Robert Duvall, Robert Carradine, Vincent Pastore, Tim Curry, Bob Mackie, Shelley Fabares, James Burrows, and Ted Turner. Notably absent from the segment were Chuck Norris and Nicholas Brendon.
Separately, "Schitt's Creek" star Catherine O'Hara was honored by her on-screen children, Macaulay Culkin, Dan Levy, and Annie Murphy, who shared heartfelt memories. "There are all types of words I could use to describe Catherine. She was encouraging. She was warm. She was funny, but the word that I think of is ‘Mom,'" Culkin stated.
Dolly Parton also received a dedicated tribute, separate from the "In Memoriam" segment. Her "Steel Magnolias" co-star Sally Field introduced the tribute, which featured country music star Reba McEntire singing Parton's song "Appalachian Memories."
Emmys producer Jesse Collins explained that Kahan chose "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" due to its personal significance. "Paul Simon is one of his favorite artists," Collins told Variety. "So it was really about coming up with an arrangement that does the song justice."
Mariska Hargitay hosted the 2026 Emmy Awards, marking the first time in 15 years that a woman helmed the ceremony. The event was attended by numerous stars, including Zendaya, Keke Palmer, Jon Hamm, and Amy Poehler.
The "In Memoriam" segment at the previous year's Emmys honored Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Ozzy Osbourne, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Anne Burrell, among others. That segment featured a performance by Lainey Wilson of Vince Gill's "Go Rest High on That Mountain."