Emmys Open With Tribute to Late Dolly Parton

The 2026 Emmy Awards opened with a dedicated tribute to the late Dolly Parton, featuring a speech by actress Sally Field and a musical performance by country star Reba McEntire. The segment honored Parton, who died of cancer on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80. Field, who costarred with Parton in the 1989 film Steel Magnolias, delivered a heartfelt remembrance. "If there are truly angels on Earth, then we just lost one Dolly Parton," Field said. She described Parton as "genuine and humble, supportive and blisteringly funny, with a bawdy sense of humor that would send any rude guy looking for a place to hide." Field added that Parton was "a humanitarian whose contributions have made a profound difference in the lives of so many in her home state of Tennessee, and across our country." Following Field's remarks, McEntire performed Parton's 1983 song "Appalachian Memories." The performance was preceded by an archival clip of Parton introducing the song from a 1983 broadcast. In the clip, Parton spoke of her pride in her Smoky Mountain roots and the personal significance of the song. McEntire concluded her rendition by saying, "I love you, Dolly. So much.