Weeks After Death, Dolly Parton Posthumously Accepts Lifetime Achievement Award in Video Message: ‘Just Know That I Will Always Love You’
Parton was honored at Wednesday night's (Sept. 16) 2026 Americana Honors & Awards, where Brandi Carlile covered her classic song "Coat of Many Colors."
Three weeks after her death from cancer at the age of 80, Dolly Parton delivered a posthumous acceptance of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Americana Awards and Honors in Nashville. Parton's message, recorded in August, was introduced by Emmylou Harris, who described Parton as an "extraordinary woman" whose presence made the world a "better, brighter and kinder place."
Harris quoted Parton's four-part motto: "dream more, learn more, care more, be more." According to Harris, Parton's music and humanitarian efforts taught "so many musicians, artists and everyday folks" how to follow their own paths. Dressed in a golden top with fringe and sparkling accents, Parton appeared in the video, expressing gratitude for the award and stating, "Roots music, or what is now called Americana music, is what I grew up playing back in the Smoky Mountains."
She also mentioned the success of her "Hungry Again" album, which led to a series of bluegrass and acoustic albums that transformed her career. The posthumous acceptance was met with a standing ovation from the audience, and Brandi Carlile performed "Coat of Many Colors" in Parton's honor.
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