Dolly Parton lives on not only through the songs that became country canon, but through the books, opportunities, businesses and acts of generosity she built around them. Her legacy has always extended far beyond a microphone, from the Smoky Mountains to the children reached by her Imagination Library. Now, the Country Music Association is making sure that legacy gets the kind of Nashville sendoff only country music can deliver.

There is something almost inevitable about a tribute to Parton becoming a musical family reunion, especially when her influence stretches from bluegrass pickers to Broadway stars. If anyone could turn a farewell into a full-blown celebration of the Dollyverse, the CMA has assembled the right guest list.

The Country Music Association has announced an all-star lineup for a rendition of 'I Will Always Love You,' with Ella Langley, Brad Paisley, Reba McEntire, Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, Ashley McBryde, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, Little Big Town, Lukas Nelson, Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill, Lady A and Zac Brown Band among the performers. The lineup also includes Béla Fleck, Kristin Chenoweth and Kristen Bell, underscoring just how far Parton’s creative influence travels beyond country radio. The CMA’s official announcement adds Carly Pearce, Molly Tuttle, and Sierra Hull to the lineup of performers, while Amy Grant and Kimberly Williams-Paisley will appear as special guests.

The two-hour special will take place on October 21 at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville (via Rolling Stone). It will air live on ABC and Disney+ at 9 p.m. ET, with the special becoming available to stream on Hulu the following day. A Belmont student ensemble will also perform as part of the university’s Dolly U program, which draws on Parton’s career as an artist and entrepreneur. Surprise guests are expected to join the evening as well.

Dolly Parton’s Hometown Is Going All Out With 145+ Events for Dolly Day

And if the CMA celebration captures Dolly Parton the icon, another production is keeping Dolly Parton the storyteller alive through the holiday season.

The 2026 national tour of Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol begins Nov. 14 in Princeton, West Virginia, before traveling across more than 20 cities. The musical features Parton’s music and lyrics, with a book by David H. Bell, and relocates Charles Dickens’ familiar Christmas tale to the 1930s Smoky Mountains.

The production turns Ebenezer Scrooge into the owner of a mining company town and folds Parton’s Appalachian roots into the classic redemption story. The tour is particularly poignant following Parton’s passing, with the production dedicated to her memory and her enduring themes of generosity, compassion and community. It is another reminder that Parton's legacy was never confined to records. It was built to travel, whether through a country ballad, a children’s book or a Christmas stage.

For Dolly Parton fans, the CMA tribute and the holiday musical offer two very different ways to keep that legacy playing. 

Dolly Parton to Be Honored With Two-Hour Live TV Tribute on ABC and Disney+

What do you think of the star-studded lineup? Share your thoughts in the comments.