The 2026 Emmy Awards paused Sunday night to honor Dolly Parton, and the moment landed exactly the way you’d hope. Sally Field delivered a tribute that felt more like a friend remembering a friend, calling Dolly“genuine and humble, supportive and blisteringly funny.”Then Reba McEntire took the stage and sang“Appalachian Mountains,”a Dolly song from 1983 that finally got its moment on a national stage.
Dolly passed last month after a private battle with cancer. She kept it quiet, the same way she handled so much of her giving over the years. Her funeral at Nashville’s Woodlawn Memorial Park was small and dignified. The tributes, though, have been anything but small. Kacey Musgraves and artists across generations have shared their memories, and now Nashville International Airport will be renamed in her honor. A two-day DollyFest is also set for Nashville and London.
Dolly spent her life lifting up Tennessee, from her Imagination Library to every benefit she quietly funded. Now the state she loved is putting her name on the gateway to Music City. What is your favorite Dolly Parton song, and what memory does it bring back for you?
About the Author
Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
