Kacey Musgraves ProfileThe MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) often feature shock moments, major award wins, and tributes.
When it comes to the latter, few artists could adequately pay tribute to Dolly Parton. But Kacey Musgraves did that – and then some.
Sunday night’s award show featured a tribute for Parton, which began with archival footage of the country music icon. Dressed in black and wearing a smile, she delivered the following advice: “Don’t criticise your wife’s judgment. Just remember who she married.”
Parton then offered the tender message, “I wish you joy and wish you lots of happiness, but above all I wish you love,” before breaking into her classic song, I Will Always Love You.
Musgraves started harmonising with Parton on the video. As the video footage faded, Musgraves delivered the rest of the moving ballad, with vocal runs and a soaring delivery that honoured the original song.
Like Parton’s original, Musgraves kept the arrangement intimate and had nowhere to hide, her vocals front and centre.
On stage, she paid tribute to her idol visually, donning a sparkly red bodysuit, teasing her hair up high, and wearing makeup that mimicked Parton’s iconic glamorous style.
Check out the beautiful tribute below.
Dolly Parton passed away in late August at the age of 80 following a brief battle with cancer. After learning of her passing, Musgraves said the news “really, really hurt.”
She added, “The world feels a lot less sparkly all of a sudden.” In a follow-up post, she wrote, “So glad she’s with her Carl Dean. No one talk to me today.”
By taking to the Video Music Awards’ stage on Sunday, Musgraves returned for the first time in five years – she last performed her song, star-crossed, at the 2021 awards. She’s also a nominee at this year’s event, with her song Dry Spell nominated for Best Country Video.
Kacey Musgraves is touring in support of her seventh album, Middle of Nowhere, released in May. The album debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 and also made major strides on the country, Americana, and folk charts—including in Australia.
#VMAs remember Dolly Parton with tribute from Kacey Musgraves pic.twitter.com/E5fefH6D1g
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) September 28, 2026
Kacey Musgraves sings Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” during a tribute performance to the late country star at the #VMAs pic.twitter.com/CmR3VersIr
— Variety (@Variety) September 28, 2026
Kacey Musgraves delivers a moving performance of “I Will Always Love You” in tribute to Dolly Parton at the 2026 #VMAs. pic.twitter.com/RCuEiM0G8n
— Kacey Musgraves Access (@KaceyAccess) September 28, 2026
