The Country Music Association revealed the full lineup for "CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton" on Monday, Oct. 5. The two-hour live special airs Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 9 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. It streams the next day on Hulu.
Who is performing:
- Ashley McBryde
- Béla Fleck
- Brad Paisley
- Carly Pearce
- Carrie Underwood
- Darius Rucker
- Ella Langley
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Kristen Bell
- Kristin Chenoweth
- Lady A
- Lainey Wilson
- Little Big Town
- Lukas Nelson
- Molly Tuttle
- Reba McEntire
- Ricky Skaggs
- Sierra Hull
- Vince Gill
- Zac Brown
Special guests: Also performing:
Where it's filmed: The show is live from Belmont University's Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville.
Why it matters: Parton died in Nashville on Aug. 25, 2026, at age 80. Her publicist said the cause was a brief battle with cancer. CMA says the special will include performances, archival footage and personal stories from her friends and fans.
Giving back: CMA and Belmont will donate part of the proceeds to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, the book-gifting program that has given away nearly 308 million books to children since 1995.
For many fans, the night is as much about faith and generosity as about hit songs. Parton often spoke about her faith and her Smoky Mountain roots, and Amy Grant's presence adds a Christian music voice to the tribute. Viewers outside the U.S. can watch on Disney+ at 9 a.m. on Oct. 22.
