# 78th Emmy Awards In Memoriam tributes > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/78th-emmy-awards-in-memoriam-tributes > Updated: 2026-09-15T20:30:47.000Z. Sources: 66. Developments: 2. The 78th Emmy Awards included an ‘In Memoriam’ segment honoring several prominent entertainment figures. Tributes were paid to Catherine O’Hara by co-stars Macaulay Culkin, Annie Murphy, and Dan Levy, as well as to director Rob Reiner by Jamie Lee Curtis. During his tribute to O’Hara, Macaulay Culkin, her ‘Home Alone’ co-star, described her as a maternal figure, stating, ‘She was my mom. She was our mama.’ Murphy and Levy also praised her creative instincts and joy. The ceremony also noted the passing of Hayden Panettiere and James Van Der Beek, though some family members expressed disappointment regarding specific omissions in the broadcast segment. Country music icon Dolly Parton was commemorated by Sally Field, who highlighted Parton’s artistry and humanitarian work, describing her as a ‘humanitarian whose contributions had made a profound difference.’ Following a performance of ‘Appalachian Memories’ by Reba McEntire during the ceremony, public attention returned to the song. Originally released on the 1983 album ‘Burlap & Satin’, the track was written from the perspective of Parton’s father and was later renamed for the 1984 television movie ‘The Dollmaker’. Beyond the tributes, the awards recognized major television achievements, with Apple TV+ and Max emerging as dominant platforms. While the Television Academy noted that a more extensive list of honorees is available on their website, the broadcast faced criticism from fans and family members regarding the omission of certain figures, such as Chuck Norris and James Ransone. The Academy clarified that the televised segment is limited due to time constraints. ## Claims - Macaulay Culkin, Annie Murphy, and Dan Levy honored the late Catherine O’Hara during the 78th Emmy Awards. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Dolly Parton wrote the song ‘Appalachian Memories’ from the perspective of her father, Robert Lee Parton. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The song was originally released on the 1983 album Burlap & Satin. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The song was originally titled ‘Smoky Mountain Memories’ before being renamed. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Reba McEntire performed the song at the 2026 Primetime Emmys to honor Dolly Parton. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Catherine O’Hara died in January at the age of 71 in her Los Angeles home following a brief illness. (corroborated by 2 sources) - O’Hara won two Emmy Awards during her career. (single source) - Macaulay Culkin described O’Hara as encouraging, warm, and funny during his tribute. (single source) - Dan Levy described the experience of honoring O’Hara at the Emmys as bittersweet. (single source) - The 78th Emmy Awards were hosted by Mariska Hargitay. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-15: Dolly Parton’s ‘Appalachian Memories’ honored at Primetime Emmys Reba McEntire performed Dolly Parton’s ‘Appalachian Memories’ at the 2026 Primetime Emmys, highlighting the song’s history and its roots in Parton’s family and Appalachian heritage. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dolly-partons-appalachian-memories-honored-at-primetime-emmys ### 2026-09-14: Emmy Awards honor Dolly Parton and Catherine O’Hara The 78th Emmy Awards featured emotional tributes to late icons Dolly Parton and Catherine O’Hara, while facing criticism for omitting several other industry legends from the In Memoriam segment. 65 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/catherine-ohara-honored-by-co-stars-at-78th-emmy-awards --- Cite as: 78th Emmy Awards In Memoriam tributes. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/78th-emmy-awards-in-memoriam-tributes