Kacey Musgraves Once Stood Beside Dolly Parton And Sang With Her

Kacey Musgraves Delivers Emotional Dolly Parton Tribute at 2026 MTV VMAs

Kacey Musgraves turned the 2026 MTV VMAs into a heartfelt country music tribute to Dolly Parton, performing one of Parton’s most enduring songs in memory of the late icon.

On Sunday night, Musgraves took the stage to sing Parton’s 1974 classic “I Will Always Love You,” delivering an emotional performance that brought the audience to its feet. It was a fitting tribute from an artist who has repeatedly spoken about Parton’s influence on her own music.

“Now that’s how you honor a legend,” host Snoop Dogg said after the performance.

A moving tribute to a country legend

The tribute stood out during a ceremony whose main stage is more commonly associated with pop, rap and rock performances.

Musgraves appeared in a magenta outfit with dramatically high, Parton-inspired hair, standing in front of a piano as she performed “I Will Always Love You.”

The segment opened with archival footage of Parton onstage, reciting the lyrics to the song in a spoken-word performance. The camera then shifted to Musgraves, who continued the song live.

Parton died in August at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer, making the performance an especially poignant moment during the ceremony.

When Musgraves finished, Snoop Dogg asked the crowd to applaud her once again.

“Now that’s how you honor a legend,” he said. “Give it up again for the beautiful Kacey Musgraves. There’s nothing but love in this room for Ms. Dolly Parton. We love you, Dolly!”

He then encouraged the audience to give another round of applause for Parton.

Musgraves has long looked to Parton for inspiration

The tribute reflected a connection between the two artists that stretches back years.

Musgraves, 38, has frequently named Parton as one of her musical inspirations. Following Parton’s death, she described the country star as the “ultimate songwriter,” underscoring the influence Parton had on her career.

Musgraves also shared an emotional message on X after Parton’s death, writing, “So glad she’s with her Carl Dean. No one talk to me today,” a reference to Parton’s husband, who died the previous year.

The Grammy-winning singer later paid tribute to Parton during a concert in Boston, where she performed a version of Parton’s 1977 hit “Here You Come Again.”

Their musical connection goes back to the 2019 Grammys

Musgraves and Parton had already shared the stage at the 2019 Grammys, when they joined Katy Perry for “Here You Come Again” as part of a larger tribute to Parton.

The ceremony featured a lineup of artists celebrating Parton’s music. Parton’s goddaughter Miley Cyrus performed “Jolene,” while Maren Morris and Little Big Town also joined the tribute for other songs, including “After the Gold Rush,” “Red Shoes” and “9 to 5.”

For Musgraves, that 2019 appearance was part of an especially significant night. She won four Grammys at the ceremony, including Album of the Year and Best Country Album for Golden Hour, while also taking the stage with Parton and Perry.

The 2026 VMAs performance therefore marked another public tribute to the artist who had been both an inspiration and a collaborator for Musgraves.

Parton never received a MTV VMA nomination

Despite her decades-long career and status as one of country music’s most recognizable figures, Parton herself was never nominated for an MTV VMA.

Musgraves, meanwhile, has received three VMA nominations.

At the 2026 ceremony, she was nominated for Best Country Video for “Dry Spell,” a single from her Middle of Nowhere album.

The 2026 performance was also Musgraves’ second appearance on the MTV VMAs stage. She previously performed in 2021, when she sang the title track from her album Star-Crossed.https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ddz6okrM1Ah/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=675&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fbreakingtimes39.com&rp=%2Fdaivu%2Fkacey-musgraves-once-stood-beside-dolly-parton-and-sang-with-her-seven-years-later-she-returned-to-the-stage-without-her-and-turned-one-of-dollys-most-beloved-songs-into-a%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwY2xjawVUnMZ#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A7251.900000095367%2C%22ls%22%3A2276.4000000953674%2C%22le%22%3A7246.799999713898%7D

A night filled with tributes

The Dolly Parton tribute was one of several major moments at the 2026 MTV VMAs.

The ceremony also featured a show-opening performance from Madonna, marking her return to the MTV VMAs stage for the first time in 23 years.

The event additionally paid tribute to late pop star George Michael, who died in 2016.

For Musgraves, however, the night centered on Parton. By choosing “I Will Always Love You,” a song Parton wrote and originally recorded in 1974, she brought their long-standing musical connection back to the VMAs stage and offered a deeply personal farewell to one of her most important influences.

Dolly Parton’s Nephew Was Trusted With Protecting Her Private World For Years — Now His Sudden Removal Has Exposed A Much Deeper Family Dispute

Madonna Is 68 — But One Star-Studded VMA Performance With Sabrina Carpenter And Charli XCX Just Showed Why She’s Still The Queen Of MTV

© 2026 Breaking Times • Built with GeneratePress