Dolly Parton was honored by country star Kacey Musgraves with a special salute at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.
Wearing a glittering magenta dress and backed only by a piano, the classy performance found Musgraves honoring the late icon with "I Will Always Love You." It marked Musgraves' first VMAs performance in five years, which took place early in the show.
The segment began with a throwback clip of Parton herself, combining the late icon's classic wit with a very '80s look. She first reminded husbands not to "criticize your wife's judgment, you just remember who she married!" Parton then began the first few lines of her enduring "I Will Always Love You," before the camera panned over to Musgraves.
Musgraves delivered a heartfelt rendition
of the hit. Soft and plainspoken, the reverent moment took place on a small stage in the center of the crowd, and ended with the video of Parton once again. Her final message for the crowd was simple.
"I'll always love you," Parton said, before adding with a wink "Bye, bye!"
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Parton wasn't the only country artist with Nashville ties featured at this year's VMAs. The nominees for best country were Ella Langley for "Choosin' Texas," Kacey Musgraves for "Dry Spell," Lainey Wilson for "Somewhere Over Laredo," Luke Combs for "Back in the Saddle," Shaboozey for "Cowgirl," Tucker Wetmore for "Brunette" and Stella Lefty's "Boston" rounded out the category.
Langley was also up for song of the year ("Choosin' Texas"), best album ("Dandelion"), best long form video ("Choosin' Texas") and song of the summer ("Choosin' Texas").
Elsewhere, Swift was nominated for video of the year, artist of the year, best pop, best album ("The Life of a Showgirl") and song of the summer ("I Knew It, I Knew You"). Morgan Wallen earned nominations for artist of the year and song of the summer ("Been By Now").
The MTV Video Music Awards, which celebrate the year's biggest music videos and artists, were hosted by Snoop Dogg. The VMAs returned to the Los Angeles area for the first time since 2017 with the 2026 ceremony at the Peacock Theater.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Kacey Musgraves salutes Dolly Parton with classy VMAs performance
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