Kacey Musgraves turned the 2026 MTV VMAs into a genuine moment Sunday night, taking the stage at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles to honor the late Dolly Parton with a performance of“I Will Always Love You.”The tribute came right after a video montage of Parton played on the big screen, with Musgraves stepping out in a sparkling pink outfit trimmed with feathers and keeping the arrangement stripped back.
Parton died Aug. 25 at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer, and the tributes have poured in from across music and pop culture ever since. What made this one stand out is the history: Musgraves and Parton performed together at the 2019 Grammys, so this was one country artist singing for someone who had genuinely mentored and shared a stage with her. VMA host Snoop Dogg captured the feeling from the podium, saying,“That’s how you honor a legend … we love you, Dolly.”
Musgraves also had a big night beyond the tribute, earning a Best Country nomination for her track“Dry Spell.”But the performance is what fans will remember. If you caught it live, you know the room went completely still.
What’s the Dolly Parton song that means the most to you? Tell us in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.