Dolly Parton will be celebrated in a new television special.
The Country Music Association has announced a tribute to the Queen of Country, "CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton," airing live on Oct. 21 on ABC and Disney+. The two-hour special will feature musical performances, archival footage and "personal stories that trace her extraordinary journey to becoming one of the most beloved entertainers and philanthropists in American history," according to CMA.
The legendary singer and philanthropist died Aug. 25 at 80, surrounded by loved ones at a Nashville medical center after briefly battling cancer, her representatives confirmed to USA TODAY at the time.
CMA and Belmont University, where the special will be filmed,
will make a donation from the event's proceeds to Parton's Imagination Library, her children's literacy program that gives free books to children from birth to age 5. The release notes that Parton and Belmont University, in Nashville, had a longtime partnership that includes the immersive educational initiative Dolly U, "designed to connect students with hands-on opportunities in entertainment" and allow them to work closely with "artists, producers and industry leaders."
Disney is also "supporting Imagination Library to further its mission of inspiring children to imagine their possibilities," according to the release.
CMA is directing fans to sign up for ticket updates for the event via an online form.
How to watch CMA's Dolly Parton TV special
"CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton" will air live Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 9 to 11 p.m. EST on ABC and Disney+ internationally, and the next day on Hulu.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: CMA announces live tribute TV special for Dolly Parton
