Sally Field delivered an emotional tribute to her longtime friend and “Steel Magnolias” co-star Dolly Parton at the 78th Emmy Awards on September 14, 2026. Standing before the audience at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater, Field opened her remarks by describing Parton as an “angel on Earth.”
The tribute came just weeks after Parton died on August 25 at the age of 80. Field and Parton had known each other for decades, dating back to their work together on the beloved 1989 film “Steel Magnolias.”
Field told the Emmy audience that although she and Parton lived far apart over the years, her affection for the country legend never disappeared. She remembered Parton as genuine, humble, supportive and incredibly funny.
But Field also acknowledged something she had not fully understood when they first worked together. Looking back, she said she had failed to recognize at the time just how extraordinary Parton was—not merely as an entertainer, but as a person.
That realization became one of the most touching parts of her speech. Field praised Parton’s humanitarian efforts and the difference her generosity made for people in Tennessee and throughout the United States, showing that her legacy extended far beyond music and acting.
Field’s memories of Parton were deeply personal because the women had formed a close bond while making “Steel Magnolias.” The celebrated cast also included Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah and Olympia Dukakis.
After the ceremony, Field admitted that delivering the tribute had been difficult. She joked that actors often spend their careers trying to make themselves cry, but on this occasion she was doing everything she could to stop herself from crying.
Field also recalled how intensely the “Steel Magnolias” cast bonded during filming. They spent so much time together that she compared making a movie to going into battle alongside people who constantly have one another’s backs.
Some of her favorite memories were surprisingly ordinary. Field remembered the women shopping together and even making trips to Walmart, experiences that allowed her to know Parton as a friend rather than simply as the superstar the rest of the world saw.
Following Field’s speech, archival footage showed Parton introducing her deeply personal song “Appalachian Memories” in 1983 and explaining its connection to her Smoky Mountain upbringing. Reba McEntire then took the Emmy stage to perform the song in Parton’s honor.
Field later said she treasured the time she had shared with Parton and could not choose one single favorite memory. Even though distance meant they did not remain in constant contact, Field believed the affection between them endured throughout the decades.
In the end, Field’s tribute was about more than mourning a famous performer. Her reflections revealed the regret of not fully recognizing Parton’s enormous human impact when they first worked together—and the lasting love she carried for the friend she would later understand as a true giant both onstage and away from it
