Kacey Musgraves will perform a “special tribute” to the late Dolly Parton at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs).
The country music icon died at the age of 80 last month following a “brief battle” with cancer.
On Wednesday, producers at MTV and CBS announced that Musgraves will honour Parton during the ceremony held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles this Sunday. Previously, the singer-songwriter performed her song Star-Crossed at the 2021 MTV VMAs.
“Kacey Musgraves returns to the VMAs stage for her first performance in five years, paying tribute to the iconic Dolly Parton,” they commented. “With three career nods, Musgraves is nominated this year in Best Country for Dry Spell.”
After the Jolene hitmaker passed away on 25 August, Musgraves posted a series of messages to social media in which she reflected on the loss.
“Dolly. This really really hurts,” the 38-year-old wrote. “The world feels a lot less sparkly all of a sudden… So glad she’s with her (late husband) Carl Dean… No one talk to me today. I’m really okay if my feed never goes back to normal. It’s not doom-scrolling it’s Dolly-scrolling.”
In addition, the Golden Hour singer dedicated a cover of Parton’s hit 1977 track, Here You Come Again, to the entertainment legend at a concert in Boston on 28 August.
Hosted by Snoop Dogg, the 2026 MTV VMAs will also see RAYE, Sombr, and Teddy Swims perform a tribute to the late George Michael, while Taylor Swift will receive the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors.
Madonna leads the nominations with 13, followed by Swift, who garnered 11 nods.
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