The Country Music Association is preparing a major television event honoring Dolly Parton and her extraordinary career. Titled CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton, the two-hour special will celebrate the singer, songwriter, entertainer, humanitarian and entrepreneur whose influence reached far beyond country music.
The tribute is scheduled to air live on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, from 9 to 11 p.m. Eastern Time. Viewers in the United States and internationally will be able to watch the event on ABC and Disney+, while Hulu will make the special available the following day.
The event follows Parton’s death on August 25 at age 80. Rather than focusing solely on her passing, the CMA says the program will celebrate the extraordinary journey and legacy she left behind through music, storytelling and personal memories.
The special will be filmed live at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville. The venue has a special connection to Parton, following the university’s previous collaboration with her on the world premiere of DOLLY: A True Original Musical and the launch of DOLLY U.
Viewers can expect the two-hour broadcast to combine live tribute performances with archival footage and personal stories. These elements will trace different chapters of Parton’s career and explore the impact she had as both an entertainer and philanthropist.
The lineup of performers has not yet been fully announced. The CMA says additional information about performers, tickets and other partners will be released in the coming weeks, meaning fans will have to wait for further announcements before knowing exactly who will take the stage.
Robert Deaton is serving as executive producer of the special. The CMA has described the event as an opportunity for the country music industry to express its gratitude for Parton’s decades of contributions and the lasting influence she had on generations of artists and fans.
The celebration will also support one of Parton’s most recognizable philanthropic efforts. CMA and Belmont University plan to make a donation from proceeds of the event to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the childhood literacy program she founded in 1995.
The Imagination Library has become a major part of Parton’s legacy, providing free books to young children. Disney is also supporting the program in connection with the tribute, continuing the effort to extend the educational mission that Parton championed throughout her life.
For fans wanting to watch the celebration live, the key date is October 21. The special will air from 9 to 11 p.m. ET on ABC and stream live on Disney+, with Hulu offering it the next day. With performances, archival moments and personal stories still to be revealed, the CMA tribute is shaping up as a major celebration of Dolly Parton’s remarkable legacy.
Compiled with information from various sources.
