Country and Americana star Brandi Carlile paid tribute to Dolly Parton during a headline concert at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena, performing a rendition of "I Will Always Love You" while photographs of the late singer were displayed on the screen behind her. The gesture came in the wake of Parton's death and formed part of a wider outpouring of grief and admiration from Carlile, who has spoken publicly several times about the influence Parton had on her life and career. The tribute matters as it reflects the depth of feeling among fellow musicians for Parton, whose legacy continues to resonate across the country music world.

Following the show, Carlile shared a heartfelt post on Instagram, admitting it took her "all day" to find the words, and describing the night as one of the best of her life, adding that she hoped the tribute had "made it up to heaven." She also referenced an earlier post written immediately after Parton's death, in which she praised Parton's generosity, humour and acceptance of others, including LGBTQ+ fans like herself, and thanked her for the impact she had on the wider world.