Kacey Musgraves Honors Dolly Parton at 2026 VMAs

Kacey Musgraves sang Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" at the 2026 VMAs on Sunday, delivering a tribute to the country legend who died on August 25 at the age of 80.

The performance extends a run of Parton covers Musgraves has woven into her Middle of Nowhere tour since the icon's death. She tackled the 1977 hit "Here You Come Again" at a show in Boston and performed "9 to 5" at Madison Square Garden.

At the Madison Square Garden stop, Musgraves spoke plainly about the loss. "I'm not over it, and I'm never gonna be over it," she told the audience. "The world definitely lost a light, and it's hard for me to talk about."

The VMAs appearance carries additional stakes for Musgraves. She is nominated this year for Best Country Music Video for the visual accompanying "Dry Spell," a track from Middle of Nowhere. She has yet to win a Moon Person despite two previous nominations: Best Longform Video and Best Art Direction for 2022's Star Crossed: The Film.

"I Will Always Love You," written by Parton herself, has served as a farewell standard for the singer's admirers since her death — and Musgraves is the artist who has carried it furthest into public performance.

Whether the VMA tribute translates into Musgraves' first win remains to be seen when the category is decided later in the ceremony.