Though she is known as a country music icon, Dolly Parton was a central presence at the 2026 Americana Awards and Honors Wednesday at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Parton, who died on Aug. 25, received the Lifetime Achievement Award via a pre-taped video message, and there were few dry eyes in the house as Parton’s face filled the screen after a heartfelt introduction from Emmylou Harris.
“It’s Dolly. I’m honored to be receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association,” began the beloved icon in the video. “Roots music, or what is now called Americana music, is what I grew up playing back in the Smoky Mountains,” Parton said. “It’s that same music that drew me back to East Tennessee in 1997 to write and record my album, Hungry Again. And that project really opened the door to a series of bluegrass and acoustic albums that changed the course of my career in so many ways.”
Parton continued, “Now, new fans discovered these albums, new Americana music communities embraced them, and now looking back at it all, I see this era of my career as a musical renaissance of sorts. I want to thank everyone at the AMA for recognizing me with this award.”
“It’s a great honor truly, and just know that I will always love you,” Parton said, ending her message as the crowd burst into cheers.
Parton’s taped speech was followed by a performance from Brandi Carlile and I’m With Her. Carlile has regularly been paying tribute to Parton on her Human tour, playing three songs (“Coat of Many Colors,” “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You”) at her Nashville arena date on Aug. 29.
“Before I met her, I loved her because she took a risk and accepted me (and all of us) for being gay in a time where she didn’t need to say anything,” Carlile wrote on Instagram after hearing of Parton’s passing. “And she has been asked to comment and speak on MANY things over the years… choosing only to speak on that which brings love and mercy to real people, and shutting down any line of questioning that won’t. She never wavered on accepting anyone for who they were and who they were meant to be.”
