Reba McEntire is remembering her longtime pal Dolly Parton with an emotional tribute.
On Wednesday, October 21, the 71-year-old American singer and actress honored her legendary country music icon friend and fellow singer with moving tributes on CMA Dolly Parton Tribute Special and The Jennifer Hudson Show.
Fighting back tears, McEntire celebrated the Jolene singer’s legacy with a special performance at Belmont University’s Fisher Center.
The event, named CMA Presents | Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton, was a live two-hour television special that took place at Nashville’s Belmont University Fisher Center for the Performing Arts and served as an emotional homage following Parton’s death in August 2026.
"We could be here all night talking about the songs she's written," McEntire began, continuing, "The award she's won, and all the things she's accomplished. But tonight is not about that... tonight is a celebration of Dolly's heart, her kindness, her generosity, her faith, her humor, and the way she has always seemed to understand that the greatest thing you can be in this world is exactly who God made you to be."
Reflecting on their decades-long friendship, the singer got misty-eyed as she said, "She reached the very top, but on that journey, from a one-room mountain cabin to the summit of the entertainment world, she never forgot the people still climbing. And she never forgot where she came from."
McEntire then delivered a soulful performance of Dolly Parton’s 1989 hit He’s Alive.
On the same day, the I’m a Survivor singer appeared on The Jennifer Hudson Show, where she once again reflected on her friendship with the 9 to 5 singer, sharing what she learnt from her.
“I loved the way Dolly carried herself with confidence and poise. She could cut a joke in a heartbeat and she would make sure that everybody felt comfortable in her presence,” she told the host.
Speaking about Parton guest starring on her 2005 sitcom Reba, the songstress recalled, “When she came out to California and did the Reba TV show with me for a week, she treated everyone equally.”
The Fancy hitmaker also discussed her Emmy Awards tribute to Dolly Parton, stating, “Well, it was [me] getting to sing for my buddy. And it meant a lot to me. When they said, ‘We would like for you to do it,’ I was honored. It was just like my way of sending her off.”
About Dolly Parton’s death
Dolly Parton was pronounced dead at the age of 80 on August 25, 2026, with her family sharing that she passed away peacefully while being surrounded by her loved ones at her Nashville home.
According to her representative, her cause of death was cancer. The country music legend briefly battled an undisclosed form of cancer and was admitted to hospital four days before her passing.
