Get the Kleenex Ready for a Live TV Tribute to Dolly Parton

There have been countless tributes to the iconic Dolly Parton in the weeks after her death, all beautiful and heartfelt. But the truest way to honor the glitter-covered country megastar is obviously to put together a live television spectacular. ABC is readying a Dolly Parton tribute produced by the Country Music Association. The special will be filmed at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, in Parton’s home state of Tennessee. It’s appropriate: Parton’s biographical musical Dolly: A True Original Musical premiered at Belmont ahead of an upcoming Broadway run, and they partnered on the entertainment education program Dolly U.

“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,” CMA CEO Sarah Trahern said ahead of the concert. “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.” 

The special will air on ABC and Disney+ at 9 p.m. on October 21 and will be available next day on Hulu. No performers have been announced yet, but certain names spring to mind. Her goddaughter Miley Cyrus, of course, is chief among them, but also the women-of-country supergroup the Highwomen, whom Parton appeared with in 2019, and Sabrina Carpenter, who worked with Parton in 2024. Push up your bras and tease out your hair; it’s time for Dollywood.