The 2026 edition of the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) is set to be the stage for one of the most moving moments in the recent history of the gala. The television channel and the production of the awards confirmed that they will celebrate a special tribute to the legendary singer and queen of the country, Dolly Parton, highlighting the cultural and musical impact she left over more than six decades of artistic trajectory.
According to Deadline, the musical tribute will be led by Kacey Musgraves, a multi-Grammy laureate and one of the most influential contemporary voices of alternative country and pop music.
This presentation will mark Musgraves’ expected return to the main stage of the VMAs after five years of absence, promising an emotional performance dedicated to his greatest musical inspiration.
The decision to honor Dolly Parton at a ceremony predominantly focused on pop culture highlights the transcendence of her work. Parton has not only left an indelible mark with hymns such as “Jolene”, “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You”, but also consolidated as a global philanthropic icon thanks to initiatives such as his Imagination Library.
Sources close to the organization of the ceremony revealed to Deadline that the musical number will review some of the important moments of Parton’s recording.
The inclusion of this tribute segment promises to be one of the highlights of the transmission. Musgraves, who has repeatedly expressed his admiration for Parton and the way it opened for women in the music industry, has been working closely with the production to coordinate a show that responds to the magnitude of the figure of the tribute.
The MTV VMAs will be held on Sunday, September 27 at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
