Dolly Parton was honored at the 2026 Emmy Awards in an emotional segment just moments before a larger In Memoriam tribute to those television actors who died within the last year.
Sally Field and Reba McEntire led the tribute to Parton, who died August 25 aged 80. Parton was notably a music icon, but did make numerous television appearances, including two different eponymous variety shows and guest stints on series including Hannah Montana.
“If there are truly angels on earth, then we just lost one,” Field said of her Steel Magnolias co-star. “I adored her from day one. How could you not?”
“I couldn’t see then what a real giant Dolly was, not just as an artist, but as a human,” Field continued.
“I am not the only one on earth who will love you forever and ever,” Field concluded.
McEntire, clad in a sparkly white gown, then took the stage to sing Parton’s song, “Appalachian Memories.”
“I love you Dolly. So much,” McEntire concluded her performance.
Moments later, Parton was included in a larger segment that paid tribute to the numerous television stars who died during the last year.
Macaulay Culkin, Annie Murphy and Dan Levy paid tribute to Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek star Catherine O’Hara, who died earlier this year aged 71 following a brief illness.
“She wasn’t just a wife and mother ... she was my mama. She was our mama,” an emotional Culkin said. “She always showed up when I asked her. We’re showing up for her.”
Murphy and Levy also shared stories in remembrance of O’Hara, before Noah Kahan began singing Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
Eric Dane, Hayden Panettiere, James Van Der Beek, Vincent Pastore, Anthony Head, Sam Neill, Tim Curry, Shelley Fabares, and Bob Mackie — who died Monday — were just some of the dozens of names included in the tribute.
Jamie Lee Curtis then walked onstage to pay tribute to Cheers co-creator James Burrows and Rob Reiner, who posthumously won an Emmy for his guest starring appearance on The Bear.
“Last year we lost another cherished legend, our beloved ‘Meathead,’ Rob Reiner,” an emotional Curtis told the crowd. “He was generous and kind and funny as hell and a friend to all.”
Curtis then pointed out that Reiner now holds an Emmys record previously held by his father, Carl Reiner, for the longest stretch between acting wins at 48 years.
