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Dolly Parton fans have been left touched by the musical tribute paid to the late Queen of Country at the 2026 MTV VMAs.
During Sunday night’s ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California, country singer Kacey Musgraves performed a moving cover of Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.”
The performance began with footage of Parton introducing the classic 1974 hit, which was written by Parton and later popularized by Whitney Houston’s cover.
“I’d like to leave you fellas with a little bit of advice,” Parton said in the clip. “Don’t criticize your wife’s judgment. You just remember who she married. Just kidding you. There’s a lot of truth in that and I would also like to say about life, I hope it treats you real kind and I hope that you have all that you ever dreamed of.”
In the footage, Parton began singing the chorus of “I Will Always Love You.” Musgraves joined in, accompanied by only a piano, and sang the song with her eyes closed.
Fans praised the tribute online, particularly the decision to pick Musgraves to honor Parton, who died in August aged 80.
“The Dolly Parton tribute I’m genuinely in tears,” one fan wrote on X.
“That is a beautiful way to honor Dolly,” added another. “Kasey Musgraves was the perfect choice for the Dolly tribute.”
“Beautiful tribute. We will always love you, Dolly.”
Another said they were “absolutely sobbing,” as another person said: “RIP Dolly. Nice tribute performance Kacey Musgraves is doing for her.”
Musgraves has previously cited Parton as one of her inspirations.
The singer had shared the stage with Parton at the 2019 MusiCares Person of the Year event, where Musgraves performed a tribute to Parton with Katy Perry for a duet on “Here You Come Again.” Later, Parton joined them onstage.
Parton was honored at the 2026 Emmy Awards earlier this year by Sally Field and Reba McEntire during the in memoriam segment.
“If there are truly angels on earth, then we just lost one,” Field said of her Steel Magnolias co-star. “I adored her from day one. How could you not?”
“I couldn’t see then what a real giant Dolly was, not just as an artist, but as a human,” Field continued. “I am not the only one on earth who will love you forever and ever.”
Parton was hospitalized at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville with “kidney and autoimmune issues” five days before she died. It was later revealed she had died after “a brief battle with cancer.” The type of cancer has not been disclosed.
Parton was laid to rest at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville. She was buried next to Carl Dean, her husband of 60 years, who died in March 2025.
