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Reba McEntire Performs Parton Tribute at 2026 Emmys

By Drooid · Sep 15, 2026, 11:22 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Actress Sally Field honored singer Dolly Parton during the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards tribute.
Singer Reba McEntire performed Parton’s 1983 song “Appalachian Memories” as part of the Emmy tribute.
Parton died on August 25, 2026, at age 80 after a brief cancer battle in Nashville, Tennessee.
Field called Dolly Parton “an angel on earth” and praised Dolly Parton's humanitarian work nationwide.

History

Historical Context

The National Medal of Arts, established by Congress in 1984, honored singer-songwriter Dolly Parton in 2005 at a White House ceremony hosted by President George W. Bush. Her award followed a decade of artists receiving the medal, and a 2026 Emmy tribute featuring Sally Field and Reba McEntire marked the first posthumous national recognition of her cultural impact.

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Story summary

Actress Sally Field honored singer Dolly Parton during the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards tribute.
Singer Reba McEntire performed Parton’s 1983 song “Appalachian Memories” as part of the Emmy tribute.
Parton died on August 25, 2026, at age 80 after a brief cancer battle in Nashville, Tennessee.
Field called Dolly Parton “an angel on earth” and praised Dolly Parton's humanitarian work nationwide.

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