The Country Music Association will honor Dolly Parton with CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton, a live two-hour special set to air Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 9 pm on ABC and Disney+ internationally, available next day on Hulu.
Produced by CMA, the special will be filmed live at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville as part of a continuing strategic partnership between CMA and the university.
As described by the CMA, “the special will be a joyful, emotional celebration of the artist, songwriter, entertainer, humanitarian and entrepreneur whose music and generosity carried her from the mountains of east Tennessee into the hearts of generations around the world, told through performances, archival footage and personal stories that trace her extraordinary journey to becoming one of the most beloved entertainers and philanthropists in American history.”
Parton died following a brief battle with cancer on August 25. She was 80.
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Belmont University and Parton previously teamed on the 2025 world premiere of Dolly: A True Original Musical at the Fisher Center and the launch of Dolly U, an immersive educational partnership designed to connect students with hands-on opportunities in entertainment, media and creative industries.
“Dolly Parton belonged to the whole world, but she was born of this industry, and this industry owes her a debt of gratitude that words alone cannot repay,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA CEO. “As the organization built to serve and celebrate Country Music, honoring her legacy is not just an opportunity, it is our responsibility. This special is our way of saying thank you, on behalf of every artist, industry member and fan who found a piece of themselves in her music.”
Robert Deaton serves as the project’s executive producer. Dolly gave Country Music its heart, and giving some of that heart back to her is an incredible honor,” said Deaton. “My hope is simply that we do right by her story, her music and the people who love her, so that this evening feels like the tribute my friend deserves.”
“Dolly Parton’s impact extends far beyond music, said Dr. Greg Jones, President of Belmont University. “She represents creativity, generosity, entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to lifting others up, qualities that have inspired generations and resonate deeply with Belmont’s mission. It was an honor for Belmont to partner with Dolly through the launch of Dolly U and the world premiere of her musical at the Fisher Center. Now, it is a privilege to welcome artists, friends and fans from around the world to celebrate her extraordinary life and legacy from this stage in Nashville, honoring a woman whose love for Tennessee was woven into everything she did.”
In conjunction with the special, CMA and Belmont University will make a donation from proceeds to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, continuing a legacy that gives millions of children the gift of a free book each month. In addition, Disney is supporting Imagination Library to further its mission of inspiring children to imagine their possibilities.
Additional details about the special, including performers, tickets and additional partners, will be announced in the coming weeks.