Reba McEntire Honors Dolly Parton With Moving Performance of “Appalachian Memories” at the Emmys
Reba McEntire took the stage at the 2026 Emmy Awards on September 14 to honor her longtime friend Dolly Parton, delivering a deeply personal performance of Parton’s “Appalachian Memories.”
The tribute came just weeks after Parton died on August 25, 2026, at age 80 in Nashville, Tennessee, following a brief battle with cancer. Her representatives confirmed the cancer diagnosis but did not disclose the specific type.
For McEntire, the song was a fitting choice. “Appalachian Memories” was released in 1983 on Parton’s 25th solo studio album, Burlap & Satin. Written about Parton’s Appalachian upbringing, the song reflects the experience of families who leave their mountain homes in search of work while trying to preserve their faith, roots and values.
A Tribute Rooted in Dolly’s Appalachian Beginnings
Before McEntire sang a note, actress Sally Field introduced the tribute.
Field starred alongside Parton in the 1989 film Steel Magnolias, and her connection to the singer went far beyond their work together. Speaking at the Emmys, Field remembered Parton as someone who was genuine, humble, supportive and exceptionally funny.
She recalled how much she had loved Parton from the moment they met and said she never stopped feeling that way, even though the two eventually lived far apart.
Field also spoke about Parton’s impact beyond entertainment, describing her as a humanitarian whose contributions had made a meaningful difference in Tennessee and throughout the country. She ended her remarks by blessing her friend and expressing the enduring love she felt for her.
Field’s words set the tone for what followed: a tribute that focused as much on the person behind the music as on the legendary career.
Then the broadcast went back in time.
A clip of Parton from 1983 played before McEntire’s performance. In the archival footage, Parton explained how deeply connected she felt to the song and to the Smoky Mountains where she grew up.
She spoke proudly about her parents and her Appalachian upbringing, explaining that she had written a song that came from a very personal place and hoping listeners would find something of their own experiences in it.
The clip made McEntire’s song choice even more meaningful. Parton was essentially given the opportunity to introduce the performance herself, decades after she first recorded the song.
Reba and Dolly’s Friendship Goes Back Decades
McEntire and Parton shared a friendship that stretched across much of their careers.
One of the most significant moments in that relationship came after the tragic 1991 plane crash that killed seven members of McEntire’s band and her tour manager. Parton stepped in to help, offering McEntire her entire band.
McEntire has spoken emotionally about the gesture, including how Parton ultimately sent her band leader, Gary Smith, to help McEntire assemble a new group following the devastating loss.
The two women continued crossing paths professionally over the years.
In 2005, Parton appeared as a guest star on McEntire’s self-titled sitcom. In 2019, the two country icons joined Carrie Underwood as co-hosts of the CMA Awards.
They also recorded together. In 1993, McEntire and Parton released their first official studio duet, an acoustic version of McEntire’s hit “Does He Love You.” McEntire had originally recorded the song with Linda Davis in 1993, while the rendition with Parton came later.
The song became another chapter in a friendship that had already lasted for years.
Dolly’s Emmy History
Parton also had a long relationship with television, including the Emmy Awards.
She received five Primetime Emmy nominations between 1978 and 2023.
Her first nomination came in 1978 for Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Variety or Music, recognizing her appearance on the ABC special Cher… Special.
In 2017, she was nominated for Outstanding Television Movie as an executive producer of NBC’s Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love.
She received another Outstanding Television Movie nomination in 2020 for executive producing the Netflix film Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings: These Old Bones.
In 2021, Parton won Outstanding Television Movie as an executive producer of Netflix’s Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square. The Television Academy lists the production as the winner in that category, while also noting a second Emmy for the film for Outstanding Choreography for Scripted Programming.
Her final nomination came in 2023 for Outstanding Television Movie as an executive producer of NBC’s Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas.
That history made the decision to honor Parton at the Emmys particularly appropriate. She had spent decades moving between music and television, building a career that connected the two worlds.
McEntire Brings “Appalachian Memories” to the Emmy Stage
When McEntire finally took the stage, images of Parton and the Appalachian Mountains appeared behind her as she performed the song with a full band.
The performance carried the weight of everything that had come before it: Parton’s childhood in East Tennessee, her connection to the mountains, her relationship with McEntire and the enormous career that had made her such an important figure in country music and television.
McEntire also incorporated personal touches into the tribute. She wore a custom white gown covered in delicate sequins, a visual nod to Parton’s own love of sparkle. She also wore jewelry from Parton’s personal collection, including a butterfly ring and the rhinestone earrings Parton had worn in the music video connected to their collaboration on “Does He Love You.”
The choice of white was especially intentional. Rather than dressing entirely in black, McEntire wanted the tribute to feel celebratory and reflect the kind of glamorous style Parton herself was known for.
At the end of the performance, McEntire offered a simple farewell to her friend, telling Parton how much she loved her.
It was a fitting close to a tribute built around the things that connected the two women for decades: music, friendship, faith, Tennessee and a deep respect for where they came from.
“Appalachian Memories” was also a particularly fitting choice because Parton never lost sight of her Appalachian roots. The song came from the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee and reflected the family, faith and sense of home that remained central to her story.
At the 2026 Emmys, McEntire allowed Parton’s own words from 1983 to lead the way, then followed them with her own performance.
It made the tribute feel less like a farewell to a distant legend and more like one friend remembering another.
Reba of course delivered a flawless performance, and this is how you do it when it comes to honoring the queen of country:
“Does He Love You”
“Appalachian Memories”