Kacey Musgraves turned the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards into an emotional tribute to one of country music’s most recognisable voices, Dolly Parton. The singer took the stage to perform Parton’s classic ‘I Will Always Love You,’ just weeks after the legendary artist passed away at the age of 80. The performance gave Musgraves an opportunity to honour Parton through one of the songs most closely associated with her career.
Kacey Musgraves brought Dolly Parton’s classic to the VMAs stage
Musgraves selected ‘I Will Always Love You’ for the tribute, giving the audience a chance to hear one of Parton’s most enduring songs through the voice of another major country artist. Parton wrote the song in the early 1970s and originally recorded it herself. Over the years, the composition became known far beyond the country music audience, most famously through Whitney Houston’s 1992 version for ‘The Bodyguard.’ That history made the song a natural choice for a tribute celebrating Parton’s musical legacy. Musgraves did not simply treat the moment as another awards-show performance. The presentation kept the attention on Parton and the connection between the two generations of country music.
Dolly Parton’s image remained part of the tribute
Parton’s presence was felt throughout the segment even though she was no longer there to perform herself. Archival visuals helped place the late singer at the centre of the presentation, allowing audiences to revisit the personality and image that made her one of the most recognisable entertainers in the world. That approach also fit the way Parton’s team has spoken about her legacy. In an official statement published on her website, her team said her music, songwriting, warmth and generosity had influenced multiple generations.
Kacey Musgraves gives ‘I will always love you’ a new meaning
‘I Will Always Love You’ has always been a song about love, separation and letting someone go. At the 2026 VMAs, those themes inevitably carried an additional meaning after Parton left the world. For Musgraves, performing the song offered a chance to celebrate Parton without trying to recreate her exact style. Instead, she brought her own voice to a composition that had already travelled across generations and musical genres.
Kacey Musgraves and Dolly Parton shared a musical connection
Musgraves was not a random choice for the tribute. The country singer had already shared the stage with Parton at the 2019 Grammy Awards. Musgraves was among the artists who joined Parton during the ceremony’s celebration of the country icon and her music.That earlier connection gave the VMAs performance another layer. Musgraves was returning to a songbook she had already celebrated alongside its creator, this time without Parton standing beside her.The moment also highlighted the influence Parton had on younger generations of country performers. Musgraves has built her own career with a sound and image that helped bring country music to a broad contemporary audience, while Parton’s career had crossed music, film, television, business and philanthropy.For fans watching, the tribute was a reminder of how one songwriter’s work can continue to find new voices long after the original artist has left the stage. Musgraves’ performance of ‘I Will Always Love You’ ultimately became a musical farewell to Parton, but it was also a celebration of what remains. Through her songs, performances and influence on artists who followed her, Parton’s voice continued to be heard this time through Musgraves at one of music’s biggest award shows.
