Reba McEntire turned the 2026 Emmy Awards into a deeply personal farewell to Dolly Parton on Monday night, Sept. 14, delivering an emotional performance of Parton’s 1983 song “Appalachian Memories” just weeks after the country legend’s death.

At the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theater at LA Live in Los Angeles, McEntire performed the song in memory of her longtime friend, who died on Aug. 25 at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer. As the performance ended, McEntire looked toward the memory of her friend and quietly said, “I love you, Dolly. So much.”

The tribute carried an especially personal touch. McEntire wore a custom white gown and incorporated pieces from Parton’s personal jewelry collection, including a butterfly ring — one of Parton’s favorite motifs — as well as statement earrings the two had worn during their “Does He Love You” collaboration.

Sally Field Remembers a Friend and “Angel on Earth”

Before McEntire took the stage, Sally Field introduced the tribute with an emotional remembrance of Parton, her Steel Magnolias co-star in the 1989 film.

Field reflected on the friendship they developed while making the movie and the affection that remained between them despite living far apart over the years.

“If there are truly angels on earth, then we just lost one, Dolly Parton,” Field said.

She remembered Parton as genuine, humble, supportive and “blisteringly funny,” while also recalling her unmistakable sense of humor. Field said she had initially underestimated the full scope of Parton’s impact, eventually recognizing that her importance extended far beyond her work as an artist.

Field also highlighted Parton’s humanitarian efforts and the influence she had in Tennessee and throughout the United States.

“God bless you, Dolly Parton, my friend,” she said. “I am not the only one on earth that will love you forever and ever.”

Field later reflected on their relationship backstage, emphasizing how much affection she continued to have for Parton after their time together on Steel Magnolias.

Dolly Parton’s Long Emmy Legacy

Parton’s connection to the Emmys began nearly five decades before this year’s tribute.

Her first Emmy nomination came in 1978 for her appearance on Cher…Special, where she was recognized for Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Variety or Music.

She continued building a television career both in front of and behind the camera. Parton served as an executive producer on Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love, which earned an Outstanding Television Movie nomination in 2017, and Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings: These Old Bones, which received another nomination in 2020.

Her first Emmy win came in 2021, when Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square won Outstanding Television Movie. The production also received the Emmy for Outstanding Choreography for Scripted Programming.

Parton’s final personal Emmy nomination listed by the Television Academy came in 2023, when Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas was nominated for Outstanding Television Movie. The Academy’s biography lists five nominations and one Emmy win for Parton.

Her influence on television, however, extended well beyond awards.

In 1985, Parton and her longtime manager Sandy Gallin co-founded Sandollar Productions. The company went on to produce television projects including Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff Angel. Parton also starred in her own variety series, Dolly, which first aired in first-run syndication from 1976 to 1977 before she returned to television with another series on ABC from 1987 to 1988.

Throughout the years, she remained a familiar television presence, appearing on programs including The Simpsons, Designing Women, Grace and Frankie, Reba and Hannah Montana.

A Friendship That Spanned Decades

McEntire’s tribute was especially poignant because of the relationship she shared with Parton.

The two country stars remained friends for decades and eventually worked together musically in 2021, when Parton joined McEntire for a new version of “Does He Love You.” Their friendship continued away from the spotlight as well, making McEntire’s performance at the Emmys more than a celebration of a musical icon.

It was a farewell from one longtime friend to another.

Remembering Parton After Her Death

Parton died on Aug. 25 at age 80 after what her representatives described as a brief battle with cancer. Her sister Stella Parton later explained that Dolly had deliberately kept her diagnosis private because she did not want her illness to become a source of worry or sadness for fans and family members. Only some relatives were aware of her condition.

Stella said Dolly wanted to protect the people she loved from worrying about her and believed her sister would have been deeply touched by the outpouring of affection that followed her death.

That affection was unmistakable at the Emmys.

Field remembered the woman she came to know while filming Steel Magnolias. McEntire answered with a song written by Parton, connecting her friend’s Appalachian roots, musical legacy and decades-long presence on television.

The Television Academy also described McEntire’s performance of “Appalachian Memories” as one of the ceremony’s moving tributes to Parton. The 78th Emmy Awards, hosted by Mariska Hargitay, aired live from the Peacock Theater at LA Live on NBC and Peacock on Sept. 14.

For a performer whose career crossed music, film and television for generations, Parton’s final Emmy tribute brought those worlds together in a fitting way: Sally Field offered the words, Reba McEntire delivered the song, and both honored a friend whose influence reached far beyond the stage.