Dolly Parton will be honored at the 78th Emmy Awards on Monday, September 14, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California. The celebration of the de facto Queen of Appalachia, who died in late August, will be led by fellow country queen Reba McEntire.
Following the news of Parton’s passing, McEntire shared a heartwarming slideshow of photos of the two singers through the years on Instagram. From their curly-haired days of the 1980s to the set of McEntire’s long-running sitcom, Reba, it’s clear that McEntire and Parton had developed a lengthy and meaningful friendship.
Videos by American Songwriter
“Dolly, thank you for all the wonderful things you did for us here on earth,” McEntire wrote. “Your love, your music and you gave so much with your huge heart. There will never be another you.”
Watch Reba McEntire Honor Dolly Parton on NBC and Peacock
The celebration of Dolly Parton’s life and musical legacy will be broadcast on NBC at 8 pm ET. Peacock will also be streaming the Emmys. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Reba McEntire is slated to sing a song by Parton. So, it will be a performance not to miss.
While it’s unclear what song McEntire might sing in Parton’s honor, there are certainly plenty to choose from. The two singers and long-time friends collaborated several times in the studio and on stage. This includes their 2021 duet, “Does He Love You”. They also performed a version of McEntire’s “How Blue” on a 2006 episode of CMT Giants.
Of course, McEntire could opt for a song that speaks to Parton’s legacy, not just their working relationship. “Coat Of Many Colors” or “My Tennessee Mountain Home” would be appropriately biographical songs to honor Parton. Parton had also cited the song “Seeker” as the song she felt most accurately described her.
McEntire ended her touching Instagram post with the sign-off, “I Will Always Love You”. The farewell message referenced Parton’s 1974 hit, later made even more famous by Whitney Houston in 1992.
Whatever her decision, the world will be watching as McEntire takes the stage to celebrate a larger-than-life personality whose absence has been felt in all corners of the world.
Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images for CMT
More Latest Music News & Stories
-
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 27: Alexandra Kay performs on stage during BST Hyde Park at Hyde Park on June 27, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Jo Hale/Redferns) -
Photo by John Anderson/The Austin Chronicle/Getty Images -
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 28: Jennifer Nettles performs during the PAC NYC ICONS OF CULTURE Gala at Perelman Performing Arts Center on October 28, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC)) -
NASHVILLE, TN – AUGUST 23: Honorees Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton attend the 11th Annual ACM Honors at the Ryman Auditorium on August 23, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for ACM) -
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL — Season: 2013 — Pictured: Carrie Underwood performs — (Photo by: Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images) -
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 10: Lainey Wilson performs during the Windy City Smokeout on July 10, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images) -
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 11: Firefighters salute in front of a memorial at FDNY Ten House during a ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2026 in New York City. The United States is marking the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, when a group of al-Qaeda hijackers flew airplanes into the World Trade Center, Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon, killing nearly 3,000 people. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) -
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 30: Graham Nash performs onstage during the FIREAID Benefit Concert for California Fire Relief at The Kia Forum on January 30, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for FIREAID)