Kacey Musgraves stepped onto the MTV VMAs stage for the first time since 2021, and she used the moment to honor the late Dolly Parton. Dressed in a sparkling red bodysuit with high-teased hair that echoed Parton’s signature style, Musgraves performed“I Will Always Love You”with just a piano behind her. The tribute opened with archival footage of Parton delivering a wry line and a tender message before Musgraves began harmonizing with the original recording and then carried the ballad on her own. Parton died on August 25, 2026, at age 80.
It wasn’t Musgraves’first goodbye to Dolly. She had previously honored the legend at a Boston concert and on social media, where she wrote that the world“feels a lot less sparkly all of a sudden.”That same sincerity came through on the VMAs stage, where a stripped-down arrangement let the song, and the loss, do the talking.
The night wasn’t purely reflective for Musgraves. She earned a Best Country nomination for“Dry Spell”and is currently on tour in support of her 2026 album, Middle of Nowhere. The tribute connected two generations of country music while reminding fans that Musgraves is in the middle of a big year of her own. What did you think of her VMAs tribute?
About the Author
Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.