[REVISION HISTORY]

78th Emmy Awards In Memoriam tributes

5 recorded revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-16 19:56 UTC → 2026-10-09 22:17 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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. Additional context regarding the musical tribute noted that McEntire and Parton have maintained a professional connection since 1977, having collaborated on a version of ‘Does He Love You’ in 2021.

Versions

Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.