Country music’s woman of the hour, Dolly Parton, is officially getting her full-blown televised tribute in just two weeks— and the lineup of performers is finally here.
Last month, just a few weeks after Parton’s tragic passing on August 25, CMA announced plans for a two-hour TV special honoring the Queen of Country Music. And might I just say that statement alone was enough to rope me in and have me glued to the television screen.
However, now they’ve announced the full list of artists who will be honoring the Queen, and there are some pretty exciting names taking the stage. Airing October 21 from 9 to 11 p.m. ET, the special will feature more than 20 acts paying tribute to the “9 to 5” singer with performances spanning her legendary catalog. A few artists will also likely revisit songs they previously performed or recorded alongside the late icon.
Notably, country music’s undeniable force, Ella Langley, will perform during the night along with Carrie Underwood (who does a d*mn good “I Will Always Love You” rendition), Darius Rucker, Lainey Wilson, Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde, and Lady A. Not to mention Brad Paisley is bound to bring the house down with another tear-jerking performance of his Dolly duet, “When I Get Where I’m Going.”
In addition, Dolly’s “Butterfly” collaborators, Zac Brown Band, are slated to perform along with long-time friend and duet partner, Reba McEntire, who already put on another stunning performance for Dolly last month at the Emmys. We’ll also have performances from Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Little Big Town, and Lukas Nelson to look forward to.
Rounding out the list of acts are Broadway buffs Kristen Bell and Kristin Chenoweth, along with legendary banjo player Bela Fleck, Molly Tuttle, Kelsea Ballerini, Sierra Hull, and two special additional guests taking the stage: Amy Grant and Kimberly Williams-Paisley.
Honoring Dolly’s Belmont University program, “Dolly U” a student ensemble will also perform during the night, inspiring students to learn from Parton’s iconic career, artistry, and entrepreneurial legacy. Not to mention, CMA promised numerous surprise tributes scattered throughout the night from fellow friends across the industry.
As previously mentioned, the star-studded special, CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton, will air Wednesday, October 21, from 9 to 11 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+ in the U.S. and internationally, before becoming available to stream the following day on Hulu. The special will be filmed in front of a live audience at Belmont University’s Fisher Center, with both CMA and the university also making donations to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in her honor.
You can learn more about making your own donation here and find out more information about this very special tribute here.