Sally Field and Reba McEntire honored Dolly Parton with an emotional tribute at the 2026 Emmy Awards, held only weeks after the country music legend’s death.
Field, who starred alongside Parton in “Steel Magnolias,” introduced the musical remembrance before McEntire took the stage to celebrate her fellow country superstar.
Reflecting on their time together in the 1989 film, Field remembered working with Parton in the beloved ensemble drama, which also featured Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis and Daryl Hannah.
“Over the years, I never stopped loving her,” Field said, praising Parton’s “blistering sense of humor” while acknowledging that she had not fully understood at the time what a “giant” Parton was.
“God bless you, Dolly Parton, my friend. I am not the only one on earth who will love you forever,” Field concluded. A video then played of Parton introducing her song, “Appalachian Memories.”
McEntire emerged in a sparkling white gown and delivered a moving performance of the song accompanied by a live symphony.
Days before television’s biggest night, Variety reported that a tribute to the singer was being planned, though organizers kept most details under wraps.
“We’re holding it back,” producer Jesse Collins told the outlet. “But I think it will be a very beautiful tribute to Dolly.”
Variety also reported that country star Noah Kahan was scheduled to perform “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” during the In Memoriam segment following the tribute to Parton.
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Parton previously received a Primetime Emmy for her performance in the 2021 Netflix film “Christmas on the Square” and earned four additional Emmy nominations.
The “9 to 5” star died at the age of 80 on Aug. 25 after a private battle with cancer.
Page Six exclusively reported three days later that she was laid to rest in a private Nashville burial next to her late husband, Carl Thomas Dean, who died at 82 in March 2025.
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The country star’s cousin, Richie Owens, shared details about the “quick” and intimate memorial during an August appearance on the “Today” show earlier this month.
Owens specified during the interview that Parton “wanted it very small” and to “keep it very, very private.” Only “a few” loved ones were invited to the memorial, he explained.
Dolly’s sister, Stella Parton, revealed in a subsequent interview that the last thing the Grammy winner asked her for was a prayer.
“My sister worked so hard for so long and just kept going. Even until the last conversation I had with her, she was working,” Stella told Gayle King on Thursday during “CBS Mornings.”
She added, “That was her passion.”
Stella also shared that prior to Dolly’s death, many family members weren’t aware of her illness.
“Dolly could not bear negative things and she would not have wanted her fans worried about it,” Stella divulged. “She didn’t want a lot of the family worried about it.”
She continued, “Some of us knew, the ones that were closer.”
Stella, 77, also clarified why the type of cancer Dolly battled wasn’t publicly revealed.
“That was her business,” Stella explained during the on-camera interview.
“She didn’t tell us that we could say it, so out of respect for her, I can talk about my love for her, describe who she is to me, but it’s not my business to tell her business.”
Dolly — who is best known for her country music career and movie appearances — also amassed a considerable body of work in television.
In addition to guest appearances on sitcoms including “Designing Women,” “Hannah Montana” and “The Simpsons,” among others, she also co-hosted “Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party” with real-life goddaughter Miley Cyrus in 2022.
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