Nashville honored Dolly Parton on Wednesday night with a two-hour live CMA tribute, and some of its most-talked-about moments centered on faith, hope, and heaven. Parton died on Aug. 25 at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer, according to her representatives. The special aired live from Belmont University's Fisher Center and honored her through performances, archival footage, and personal stories.
Paisley performed "When I Get Where I'm Going," his No. 1 duet with Parton, with Sierra Hull singing Dolly's part. The song centers on death, faith, and the hope of being reunited. Fans turned to it for comfort after Parton's death.
Dolly's own voice fills the room
Zac Brown performed "Butterfly" with Amy Grant and Kimberly Williams-Paisley, while Dolly's original vocals played through the auditorium.
Amy Grant wrote on Instagram that she had been in the presence of two women who radiated an unmatched light, Dolly and Minnie Pearl. She said she'll keep asking, "what would Dolly do?"
Reba McEntire gets emotiona
McEntire recalled meeting Parton early in her career, and Parton's guest role on her sitcom "Reba," where Dolly handed out Valentine candy hearts to the crew.
The night opened with a bluegrass set. Béla Fleck, Ricky Skaggs, Molly Tuttle, and Vince Gill played "A Few Old Memories." CMA and Belmont are donating part of the proceeds to Parton's Imagination Library.
Missed it? The special is available the next day on Hulu.
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