Dolly Parton special tonight: What time, channel and performers
Dolly Parton special tonight: What time, channel and performers
Lori Comstock, USA TODAY NETWORKWed, October 21, 2026 at 11:47 AM UTC
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The Dolly Parton special airs live tonight, bringing together some of country music’s biggest stars for a two-hour tribute.
"CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton" airs Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 9 to 11 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Lainey Wilson and Kelsea Ballerini lead the performer lineup, honoring Dolly Parton, who died Aug. 25 at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer.
What time is the Dolly Parton special tonight? How long is it?
The Dolly Parton special begins at 9 p.m. ET tonight, Wednesday, Oct. 21, and runs until 11 p.m., making it a two-hour live tribute.
The celebration of Dolly airs live from Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville.
What channel is the Dolly Parton special on?
"CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton" will air on ABC. The special will also stream live on Disney+ in the United States and internationally.
How can I stream the Dolly Parton special?
Viewers can stream the Dolly Parton TV special live on Disney+ beginning at 9 p.m. Eastern tonight. The special will also be available to stream the next day on Hulu.
Watch "CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton" on Disney+
Who is performing at the Dolly Parton special?
The announced performers are:
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Ashley McBryde
Béla Fleck
Brad Paisley
Carly Pearce
Carrie Underwood
Darius Rucker
Ella Langley
Kelsea Ballerini
Kristen Bell
Kristin Chenoweth
Lady A
Lainey Wilson
Little Big Town
Lukas Nelson
Molly Tuttle
Reba McEntire
Ricky Skaggs
Sierra Hull
Vince Gill
Zac Brown
Amy Grant and Kimberly Williams-Paisley will join the program as special guests.
A Belmont University student ensemble will also participate in a performance.
Will there be surprise guests at the Dolly Parton tribute?
CMA says the special will feature additional surprise tributes from Dolly Parton’s friends across the entertainment world. The names of those participants have not been announced, though some have speculated Dolly's goddaughter, Miley Cyrus, could make a surprise appearance.
How did Dolly Parton die?
Dolly Parton died Aug. 25, 2026, at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives confirmed. The type of cancer was not publicly disclosed.
Her death came after previous health issues and canceled appearances, but Parton had not publicly disclosed a cancer diagnosis before her death.
Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based reporter covering trending news with USA TODAY Network's Mid-Atlantic Connect Team. She covers news in the Northeast, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Reach her at LComstock@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Dolly Parton special tonight: What time, channel and performers
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