Kacey Musgraves Honors Dolly Parton With 'I Will Always Love You' at VMAs

At the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, singer Kacey Musgraves performed a tribute to Dolly Parton. The centerpiece of this honor was a performance of the song 'I Will Always Love You.' According to reports from today.com, the tribute segment began with a cameo appearance from Dolly Parton herself before Musgraves took the stage. Coverage from Page Six, People.com, and TMZ emphasizes the emotional nature of the performance, with People.com specifically describing the tribute as moving and Page Six characterizing it as emotional. LancasterOnline further contextualized the performance as part of a larger event that included a performance by Madonna and a victory for the artist LISA.

These outlets collectively highlight the tribute to Parton as one of the primary focal points of the evening's festivities and programming. The significance of this moment is tied to the legacy of Dolly Parton and the enduring popularity of 'I Will Always Love You.' While the coverage does not specify the exact nature of the relationship between Musgraves and Parton, the inclusion of a personal cameo from Parton suggests a curated celebration of the songwriter's influence. This tribute occurred alongside other major industry milestones and performances, marking a specific intersection of country music influence and mainstream pop culture at the MTV awards. Observers and audiences are now looking at the remaining outcomes of the 2026 MTV VMAs.

While Kacey Musgraves' tribute and LISA's win have been noted, Yahoo reports that there is specific interest regarding why Miley Cyrus missed the event. Future updates will likely focus on the reasons for Cyrus's absence and the full list of award winners from the ceremony, as the event continues to generate discussion across entertainment news platforms.