Kacey Musgraves performs Dolly Parton tribute at 2026 VMAs

Kacey Musgraves performed a tribute to the late Dolly Parton during the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards. Following Parton’s death on August 25 at age 80, Musgraves performed “I Will Always Love You” as a centerpiece of the ceremony.

The performance utilized archival footage of Parton singing the 1974 track, which Musgraves then harmonized with before continuing the ballad solo at the piano. Musgraves wore a fuchsia rhinestone-covered gown with feathered cuffs, a stylistic choice noted for echoing Parton’s signature glamour and country-diva aesthetic.