How to Watch Two-Hour Dolly Parton Tribute Special, ‘CMA Presents I Will Always Love You’
Find out everything you need to know about the tribute, including the performers, how to watch and more.
Photo Courtesy of Dolly Parton
Nearly two months after the world mourned the loss of Dolly Parton, her legacy continues to be celebrated by the country music community. Tomorrow, (Oct. 21), Nashville will come together for a special tribute honoring the country icon, her remarkable career and the lasting impact she has made on generations of music lovers nationwide.
Keep reading for everything you need to know about the tribute, including the performers, how to watch and what to expect from “CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton.”
Who will be performing?
The Nashville community has shared plans to unite artists from multiple generations and genres in the late “9 To 5” singer’s honor. The lineup includes a mix of fellow Country Music Hall of Fame members, country music superstars, and celebrated bluegrass acts, Broadway and beyond, all with the goal of remembering the lasting impact Parton has had throughout her career.
The news first broke on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” revealing performers Ashley McBryde, Béla Fleck, Brad Paisley, 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, Sierra Hull, Vince Gill and Zac Brown. Additionally, with Amy Grant and Kimberly Williams-Paisley will join as special guests.
Since the two-hour special honoring the country music icon will be broadcast live from Belmont University, the show will also feature a student ensemble. These aspiring singers will represent the university’s ongoing “Dolly U” programming that seeks to engage students in learning from Parton’s career, artistry and entrepreneurial legacy.
What else can viewers expect?
In addition to the star-studded performances, viewers can expect to see surprise tributes from some of Dolly Parton’s friends and longtime connections throughout the entertainment industry.
Dolly has always been passionate about inspiring the next generation, a mission she continues through initiatives like Dolly U and her Imagination Library, which encourages children to dream big and fosters a lifelong love of reading.
As part of the special, the CMA and Belmont University will donate a portion of the proceeds to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Fans can also support the Imagination Library by making a donation at https://lnk.to/ImaginationLibraryPR.
How to watch “CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton”
The magic of this special event will unfold on Wednesday, Oct. 21, airing at 9:00-11:00 PM/EDT 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.
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.
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