Reba McEntire, 71, is scheduled to honor her close friend Dolly Parton with a special performance at the 78th Emmy Awards, less than a month after Parton's death at age 80. The performance will celebrate the legacy of the iconic country music star.
While the specific song McEntire will perform has not been announced, sources indicate she will likely perform a Dolly Parton composition. Parton's extensive contributions to music and television are well-documented. She received five Emmy nominations during her career and won an Emmy in 2021 for Outstanding Television Movie as a producer for Netflix's "Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square."
Parton's career in television began with regional programs before she starred in her own variety shows and ventured into television production. Through her company Sandollar Productions, she served as an uncredited executive producer on notable television series such as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and its spinoff "Angel," as well as the 2019 Netflix anthology series "Dolly Parton's Heartstrings."
McEntire and Parton shared a friendship spanning over 40 years. Their bond dates back to 1977 when Parton surprised McEntire during her first performance at the Grand Ole Opry. They supported each other's careers throughout the years, with Parton guest-starring on McEntire's sitcom "Reba" in 2005 and co-hosting the CMA Awards together in 2019. Their first official musical collaboration, a new version of "Does He Love You," was released in 2021, followed by their participation in the 2026 track "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" with other artists.
McEntire shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram following Parton's passing on August 25, writing, "Dolly, thank you for all the wonderful things you did for us here on earth. Your love, your music and you gave so much with your huge huge heart. There will never ever be another you. We will remember and cherish every memory and every note you ever played and sang."
Parton's representatives confirmed her death was due to a "brief battle with cancer," though the specific type was not disclosed. She had been admitted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, shortly before her passing. In a final interview, Parton had mentioned battling unspecified "health issues" while caring for her late husband, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025.