The Country Music Association (CMA) is preparing to honor the life and legacy of country music icon Dolly Parton with a special two-hour television event.
Titled CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton, the tribute will air live on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, on ABC and Disney+ in the U.S. and internationally, with the special becoming available to stream on Hulu the following day.
The announcement comes following Parton’s death on August 25 at the age of 80. Over a career spanning more than six decades, Parton became one of the most influential and beloved figures in country music, while also making a lasting impact through her philanthropy and humanitarian work.
A Celebration of Dolly’s Life and Legacy
The upcoming special will celebrate Parton’s extraordinary journey through live musical performances, archival footage and personal stories. The program will explore the many sides of her career as a singer, songwriter, entertainer, entrepreneur and philanthropist.
The performers and additional details have not yet been announced, but the event is expected to bring together artists and members of the country music community to honor Parton’s remarkable legacy.
CMA CEO Sarah Trahern said honoring Parton is more than an opportunity for the organization—it is a responsibility to celebrate an artist whose music touched generations of fans.
Robert Deaton will serve as executive producer of the special. He said the goal is to honor Parton’s story, music and the people who loved her.
Filmed Live in Nashville
The tribute is being produced through a partnership between the Country Music Association and Belmont University. It will be filmed live at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville, bringing the celebration to Music City.
The special will also continue Parton’s legacy of giving back. CMA and Belmont University plan to make a donation from proceeds to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the early-childhood book-gifting program founded by Parton.
The Imagination Library sends free, age-appropriate books to children from birth through age five and has distributed more than 300 million books since its launch in 1995.
When to Watch
CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton will air live Wednesday, October 21, from 9–11 p.m. ET / 8–10 p.m. CT on ABC and Disney+. It will be available for streaming on Hulu the following day.
With performances, memories and stories celebrating one of country music’s most recognizable figures, the special will give fans an opportunity to remember Dolly Parton and the extraordinary legacy she leaves behind.