Tribute specials for Dolly Parton drew strong audiences across ABC, CBS, NBC and The CW in late August, underlining her enduring popularity following her death from cancer on 25 August at the age of 80. The broadcasts, hastily arranged during a typically quiet ratings period, performed well enough to make an impact even amid modest late-summer viewing levels, with several specials topping their timeslots.

ABC's repeat airing of the 1980 film "9 to 5" on 30 August averaged 4.275 million viewers, making it the most-watched film on a broadcast network in over three and a half years. Its ABC News special "An American Original," hosted by David Muir, drew 4.051 million viewers and topped its 10pm slot, while CBS's Gayle King-anchored tribute reached 2.085 million, NBC's Lester Holt special drew 3.952 million (later 4.5 million with Peacock), and The CW's encore attracted 1.299 million. CBS's "Entertainment Tonight" tribute, boosted by a "60 Minutes" lead-in, was the biggest single special with 5.326 million viewers, and "World News Tonight" saw its best weekly viewership in five months following Parton's death.