Dolly Parton Honored Posthumously at Americana Awards

Dolly Parton was honored posthumously with the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Americana Honors & Awards in Nashville, roughly three weeks after her death at 80 following a private battle with cancer. A prerecorded video showed Parton reflecting on her Appalachian roots and how her 1997 album “Hungry Again” led to bluegrass and acoustic projects that introduced her music to new Americana audiences. Emmylou Harris praised Parton’s songwriting and humanitarian work, while Brandi Carlile and I’m With Her performed “Coat of Many Colors.” The Country Music Association’s previously announced two-hour special honoring Parton remains scheduled to air on ABC and Disney+ on Oct. 21, 2026, with Hulu streaming it the following day; proceeds will benefit her Imagination Library. At the 2026 Primetime Emmys, Reba McEntire also paid tribute to Parton by performing “Appalachian Memories” during the In Memoriam segment.