Kacey Musgraves Honors Dolly Parton with “I Will Always Love You” at 2026 VMAs
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Kacey Musgraves paid tribute to Dolly Parton at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, performing “I Will Always Love You” in a sparse, piano-led arrangement. The performance followed Parton’s death and presented the song as a quiet farewell, with archival footage and a recording of Parton introducing the tribute before Musgraves sang alone.
Parton died on 25 August aged 80. Musgraves had also honoured her at a Boston concert with “Here You Come Again” and shared a message of grief online. The VMA appearance was Musgraves’ first performance at the ceremony since 2021; she was nominated this year for Best Country for “Dry Spell” and is touring behind her 2026 album *Middle of Nowhere*.
- Musgraves honoured Dolly Parton with “I Will Always Love You” at the VMAs.
- Archival footage and piano accompaniment gave the tribute an intimate tone.
- Parton died aged 80; Musgraves was also nominated for Best Country.
Full account
At the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards ceremony on Sunday, American country music artist Kacey Musgraves made her return to the VMAs stage for the first time in five years to deliver a tribute to the recently deceased Dolly Parton. The performance featured Musgraves performing 'I Will Always Love You,' the iconic composition most famously associated with Parton. The tribute held particular poignancy given Parton's recent passing less than two months prior.
The performance employed archival footage of Parton, presented in black attire, sharing two messages with the audience. The first was characteristic of her wit: a quip cautioning against criticising a spouse's judgment. The second struck a more tender note, with Parton wishing her audience joy, happiness, and above all, love. Musgraves harmonised with Parton's recorded vocal before the footage faded, leaving the performer alone with the ballad. Accompanied solely by piano, the sparse arrangement centred attention upon Musgraves' voice and Parton's lyrics, functioning as a quiet, intimate farewell. Musgraves' visual presentation honoured Parton through costume choices: a sparkling red bodysuit paired with voluminous, teased hair and makeup echoing the country legend's signature glamorous aesthetic.
This performance represented Musgraves' most significant public acknowledgement of Parton's death since her passing. Just over a month prior, Musgraves had honoured Parton during a Boston concert by performing her 1977 composition 'Here You Come Again.' Musgraves had also expressed her grief through social media, describing how the world felt 'a lot less sparkly' without Parton. The 2026 VMA appearance marked a notable moment for Musgraves' own career trajectory, with the artist earning a nomination in the best country category for her track 'Dry Spell.'
The tribute unfolded within a broader celebration of Parton's legacy at the ceremony. Taylor Swift, accepting the award for video of the year for 'The Fate of Ophelia,' publicly dedicated her accolade to Parton, referring to her as the 'ultimate showgirl' and describing how Parton's songwriting and storytelling had profoundly influenced her artistic approach. Various other performances marked the evening, with additional tributes woven throughout the ceremony.
Where outlets differ
Specific death date: Source 1 states August 25; Source 2 vaguely references 'the end of August'
Cause of death: Source 2 mentions Parton died 'following a cancer battle'; Source 1 omits this detail
Primary focus: Source 1 concentrates on Musgraves' performance details, styling, and career context; Source 2 emphasises Taylor Swift's video of the year win and broader awards show narrative
Performance documentation: Source 1 provides extensive detail about staging, choreography, and costume choices; Source 2 only briefly acknowledges the tribute
Historical context: Source 1 specifies Musgraves' previous VMA performance was 'star-crossed' in 2021; Source 2 contains no such historical reference
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