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Sally Field Honors Dolly Parton at 2026 Emmys

By Drooid · Sep 15, 2026, 3:17 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Sally Field Honors

Sally Field honored Dolly Parton with a tribute at the 2026 Emmy Awards.
Parton died on Aug. 25, 2026, at age 80 after a brief cancer battle.
Reba McEntire performed Parton's 1983 song “Appalachian Memories” backed by an orchestra.
Field described Parton as a humanitarian and a “real giant” in both art and humanity.
The tribute aired before the ceremony’s In Memoriam segment.

Summary

Dolly Parton Offers Band

Dolly Parton offered her entire band to Reba McEntire after a 1991 plane crash killed eight band members.
Reba McEntire first met Dolly Parton at the Grand Ole Opry in 1977, prompting a song swap.
Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire recorded an acoustic duet of “Does He Love You” in 1993.
Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton co-hosted the 2019 CMA Awards alongside Carrie Underwood.

History

Historical Context

In 1972 Loretta Lynn won the Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female—her second of three Grammy wins—after earlier becoming the CMA’s first female Entertainer of the Year. Decades later, the 2026 Emmy ceremony saw Sally Field honor Dolly Parton while Reba McEntire performed Parton’s 1983 hit, echoing the tradition of high-profile tributes to pioneering female country stars.

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Sally Field Honors

Sally Field honored Dolly Parton with a tribute at the 2026 Emmy Awards.
Parton died on Aug. 25, 2026, at age 80 after a brief cancer battle.
Reba McEntire performed Parton's 1983 song “Appalachian Memories” backed by an orchestra.
Field described Parton as a humanitarian and a “real giant” in both art and humanity.
The tribute aired before the ceremony’s In Memoriam segment.

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