The Country Music Association and ABC will present a two-hour live tribute, CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton, on Wednesday, Oct. 21 from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with the special available to stream the following day on Hulu. The program was filmed at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, and will include a Belmont University student ensemble; Belmont hosted the premiere of Parton’s Dolly musical in 2025. The special features an all-star lineup of country singers and musicians and sample announcements list performers including Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley and Vince Gill; special guests Amy Grant and Kimberly Williams-Paisley will also appear. Dolly Parton died Aug. 25 at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer; CMA CEO Sarah Trahern said, "Dolly Parton belonged to the whole world, but she was born of this industry, and this industry owes her a debt of gratitude that words alone cannot repay." A portion of proceeds from the special will be donated to Parton’s Imagination Library, which has given away nearly 308 million books to children since 1995. The event is presented as a live celebration of Parton’s songs, philanthropy and legacy and will reach television and streaming audiences across ABC, Disney+ and Hulu.
