Kacey Musgraves brought Dolly Parton’s music to the center of the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, September 27, performing “I Will Always Love You” as part of a tribute to the late country music icon.
The performance became one of the ceremony’s most talked-about moments, putting Musgraves back on the VMAs stage for the first time in five years. Paramount and MTV had announced the tribute ahead of the ceremony, confirming that Musgraves would perform in Parton’s honor.
The moment is now driving renewed interest in Kacey Musgraves and the song as clips from the broadcast circulate online following the VMAs.
Kacey Musgraves Performs Dolly Parton Classic
The tribute opened with archival footage of Parton performing and speaking before transitioning into “I Will Always Love You.”
Musgraves then took over the song in a stripped-down performance accompanied by piano. Reports from the ceremony noted that the arrangement kept the focus on Musgraves’ voice and Parton’s songwriting.
The presentation also incorporated Parton’s recorded performance, creating a visual and musical connection between the two country stars.
Importantly, Musgraves’ appearance was pre-recorded. She was scheduled to perform a Middle of Nowhere tour show in Nashville on the same night as the VMAs, according to multiple reports.
Why Kacey Musgraves’ Dolly Tribute Is Trending
The timing of the performance is central to the renewed attention.
Parton died on August 25, 2026, at age 80, according to reporting surrounding the tribute. The VMAs provided one of the first major televised opportunities for Musgraves to publicly honor her following her death.
Musgraves had already been paying tribute to Parton during her Middle of Nowhere tour. She performed Parton songs at tour stops in Boston and New York, including “Here You Come Again” and “9 to 5.”
That history made the VMAs performance part of a continuing tribute rather than an isolated appearance.
‘I Will Always Love You’ Has a Long History
Parton originally released “I Will Always Love You” in 1974, and the song later became internationally famous through Whitney Houston’s 1992 recording for The Bodyguard.
Musgraves chose Parton’s version as the foundation for the VMAs tribute, bringing the song back to its country roots while honoring its original writer and performer. CBS also highlighted the song’s journey from Parton’s original recording to Houston’s hugely successful interpretation.
The choice was particularly fitting given Musgraves’ long-standing admiration for Parton.
The two artists previously shared the stage during a Parton tribute in 2019, when Musgraves participated in performances celebrating Parton’s career.
Musgraves Also Had a 2026 VMA Nomination
The Dolly tribute was not Musgraves’ only connection to this year’s ceremony.
She was also nominated in the Best Country category for her song “Dry Spell.” The category was introduced to the VMAs in 2025, making Musgraves part of the awards show’s expanding recognition of country music.
Her return to the VMAs therefore combined her current work with a tribute to an artist who has been an important influence on country music and on Musgraves herself.
A Tribute That Keeps Dolly Parton’s Music in Focus
The VMAs performance gives Musgraves’ ongoing tributes to Parton a larger televised platform.
Rather than introducing a new collaboration or unreleased song, the performance centered on one of Parton’s best-known compositions and connected archival footage of the late singer with a contemporary country artist.
That combination is a major reason Kacey Musgraves is trending following the VMAs: viewers are revisiting both the performance and Parton’s original work as the music community continues to celebrate her legacy.
FAQs
1. What song did Kacey Musgraves sing at the 2026 VMAs?
Kacey Musgraves performed Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” as part of a tribute.
2. When did Kacey Musgraves perform the Dolly Parton tribute?
The tribute aired during the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, September 27, 2026.
3. Was Kacey Musgraves’ VMAs performance live?
Reports indicate that the performance was pre-recorded because Musgraves had a Middle of Nowhere tour date in Nashville on the night of the VMAs.
4. When did Dolly Parton originally release “I Will Always Love You”?
Parton released the song in 1974. It later became globally famous through Whitney Houston’s 1992 version.
5. Was Kacey Musgraves nominated at the 2026 VMAs?
Yes. Musgraves was nominated in the Best Country category for “Dry Spell.”
