CMA Announces Dolly Parton Tribute Lineup Featuring Reba McEntire

A two-hour television special titled 'CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton' will honor the late country icon on October 21. The broadcast, airing from 9 to 11 p.m. EDT on ABC and Disney+, features a lineup that includes Reba McEntire, Ella Langley, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Kelsea Ballerini, Darius Rucker, Ashley McBryde, Béla Fleck, Carly Pearce, Lady A, Lainey Wilson, Little Big Town, Lukas Nelson, Molly Tuttle, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Sierra Hull, Kristen Bell, and Kristin Chenoweth. Special guests Amy Grant and Kimberly Williams-Paisley are also scheduled to appear.

The event will be filmed at Belmont University's Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville before a live audience and streamed on Hulu the following day. In addition to professional performers, a student ensemble from the school is set to participate as part of its 'Dolly U' initiative. The tribute aims to reflect Parton's influence across generations and genres.

Proceeds generated by the special will be donated to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, an international literacy program that has provided over 300 million books. Organizers stated that the roster was selected based on its ability to represent the breadth of Parton's career and her impact across entertainment industries.