The country icon, who was nominated for four primetime Emmys across her career and won once, died on Aug. 25.

Reba McEntire and Sally Field pay tribute to Dolly Parton in emotional 2026 Emmys tribute 3 weeks after her death

The country icon, who was nominated for four primetime Emmys across her career and won once, died on Aug. 25.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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September 14, 2026 10:38 p.m. ET

Reba McEntire pays tribute to Dolly Parton at 2026 Emmys. Credit:

Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty

- Dolly Parton received a special tribute at Emmys 2026.

- The emotional moment comes three weeks after Parton died on Aug. 25 at age 80 following a “brief battle with cancer.”

- Catherine O’Hara, James Van Der Beek, and Hayden Panettiere were also among those honored in an In Memoriam segment.

The 78th Emmy Awards could not skip the chance to honor the life and legacy of Dolly Parton.

On Monday evening, Sally Field took to the stage to remember her late *Steel Magnolias* costar, three weeks after the country icon’s death.

“If there are truly angels on Earth, we just lost one,” Field began. “She was 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.”

She concluded, “God bless you, Dolly Parton, my friend. I am not the only person on Earth that will love you forever and ever.”

After Field’s words, Reba McEntire — whose friendship with Parton spanned decades — stepped out to perform Parton’s 1983 ballad, “Appalachian Memories.”

Sally Field and Reba McEntire pay tribute to Dolly Parton at 2026 Emmys.

Rich Polk/Variety via Getty; Trae Patton/NBC via Getty

Parton last appeared on the Emmys stage in 2017, when she joined forces with her* 9 to 5 *costars Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda to make quips and present an award.

Parton, who died late last month, was nominated for four Emmy awards across her illustrious career. Her first nod came in 1978, for an appearance on Cher’s self-titled TV special. Parton was nominated again in 2017 and 2020 —for her made-for-TV drama *Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love* and her Netflix special, *Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings: These Old Bones *— before finally winning Outstanding Television Movie for *Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square.*

Parton left her mark on television with various guest appearances and as the host of her own short-lived variety show, *Dolly*. She also famously helped to produce the hit supernatural series, *Buffy the Vampire Slayer**.* While the “Jolene” singer was not directly credited as a producer on the show, her production company Sandollar Productions, which she launched with her former manager Sandy Gallin, was listed in the end credits throughout the entire series run, from 1997 to 2003.

Dolly Parton attends Dolly Parton’s Rockstar VIP Album Release Party with American Greetings on November 16, 2023.

Jason Kempin/Getty

Star Sarah Michelle Gellar celebrated Parton’s impact on the show after her death, sharing a clip of the singer talking about the hit supernatural drama.

“Just being a small part of the great history of [Dolly Parton] is everything to me,” Gellar wrote.

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The country music legend died on Aug. 25 at age 80 following a “brief battle with cancer,” her representatives confirmed. Following Parton’s death, several of her collaborators and costars, as well as celebrities who revered her, paid tribute to the country music star.

A statement from her family read, “Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.”

Days later, per Parton’s wishes, she was laid to rest in a private burial in Nashville at the Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum.

See the full list of winners from the 2026 Emmy Awards.

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Source: “EW Emmys”