Brad Paisley and Sierra Hull Honor Dolly Parton With Emotional ‘When I Get Where I’m Going’ Performance
“Dolly, I’m going to try to do our song justice,” Paisley stated prior to taking the stage.
Brad Paisley, Sierra Hull; Photo by John Russell/CMA
Brad Paisley and bluegrass legend Sierra Hull created a truly magical in Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts as part of “CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton.”
On Wednesday, October 21, the pair of artists took the stage to perform a heartfelt rendition of “When I Get Where I’m Going,” the 2005 duet originally recorded by Paisley and Parton for his Time Well Wasted album. The song reached No. 1 on the U.S. Hot Country Songs chart and earned multiple awards at the time.
Now nearly two months since the passing of the country music icon, Paisley revisited the song he once shared with Parton, celebrating not only her lasting influence on country music but also the friendship they built over the years.
“When I Get Where I’m Going” offers a message of faith, hope and comfort in believing that the loved ones who have passed one may one day be waiting for us beyond this life. Between Paisley’s warm voice and guitar playing and Hull’s stunning contribution of rich vocals and her award-winning mandolin picking, the performance became a poignant tribute to Parton’s legacy. Together, they captured the meaningful storytelling and uplifting message, reminding listeners to cherish the time we have with loved ones.
Prior to taking the stage, Paisley reflected on the force that Dolly Parton was, not only in country music, but in any genre.
“We don’t get to claim her entirely anymore. She’s in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She is in the acting pantheon of icons as well. But she’s from Tennessee and she is a country singer at the core. And that all would be enough to do a special like this and to honor her.”
“Dolly, I’m going to try to do our song justice. Thank you for singing with me in the first place,” he added in a message to the “9 To 5” singer.
Hull also spoke about the profound influence Parton has had on her life, explaining that her life story closely aligns with the late country act, with them both being Tennessee natives who come from relatively poor backgrounds.
“I’m from a little town of about 700 people, no red light. I know what it’s like to be from somewhere where you can’t access all the same kind of things as when you grew up in a city and my family certainly knows that. So Dolly’s story has always resonated with me as a Tennessee girl, just that it doesn’t matter where you come from, if you dream big enough, anything’s possible.”
She went on to claim that it is a “joy” to be a part of this special tribute.
“Dolly truly has been one of my biggest heroes and influences of all time, not just as a musician, but as who she is, what she gave all of us as a humanitarian and just such a light to this world. I’m just so thrilled to be here to celebrate her tonight and alongside this insane cast of musicians, I feel so blessed to be here.”
“CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton”
“CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton” set out to unite artists from multiple generations and genres with a star-powered list of performers. The lineup included a mix of fellow Country Music Hall of Fame members, country music superstars, and celebrated bluegrass acts, Broadway and beyond.
Among those who took the stage were Ashley McBryde, Béla Fleck, Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Ella Langley, Kelsea Ballerini, Kristen Bell, Kristin Chenoweth, Lady A, Lainey Wilson, Little Big Town, Lukas Nelson, Molly Tuttle, Reba McEntire, Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill and Zac Brown. Additionally, Amy Grant and Kimberly Williams-Paisley joined as special guests.
Along with the unforgettable performances, the night featured special tributes from some of Dolly’s friends and longtime connections throughout the entertainment industry, like Bono, Carol Burnett, Goldie Hawn, Julia Roberts and Oprah Winfrey.
The two-hour special was broadcast live from Belmont University on ABC and Disney+ in the U.S. and internationally. Filmed before a live audience at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville, the special will also be available to stream the next day on Hulu.
The CMA and Belmont University will donate a portion of the proceeds from tonight’s event to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Madeleine O’Connell graduated from North Central College with a bachelors degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications before deciding to pursue her studies further at DePaul University. There, she earned her masters degree in Digital Communication & Media Arts. O’Connell served as a freelance writer for over two years while also interning with the Academy of Country Music, SiriusXM and Circle Media and assisting with Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast. In addition to Country Now, she has been published in American Songwriter, Music Mayhem, and Holler.Country. Madeleine O’Connell is a member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
You may also like
Country Next
Playlist
On Repeat
Get the latest country music news delivered straight to your inbox.
