CMA Announces Live Dolly Parton Tribute Special: How to Watch, Date, Time & Streaming Details

The Country Music Association is honoring Dolly Parton with a two-hour live television special this October. Here’s everything viewers need to know about the tribute, including the date, time, channels, streaming options, and what to expect.

The Country Music Association has announced a major television tribute celebrating the life and legacy of Dolly Parton, bringing together music, personal stories and archival footage in a special event for fans around the world.

Titled “CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton,” the two-hour program will air live on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, on ABC and Disney+ in the United States and internationally. It will also become available to stream on Hulu the following day.

When Is the Dolly Parton Tribute Special?

The CMA tribute is scheduled for:

• Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2026
• Time: 9–11 p.m. ET / 8–10 p.m. CT
• Network: ABC
• Streaming: Disney+ live; Hulu the following day
• Location: Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville, Tennessee

The official CMA announcement confirms the 9 p.m. Eastern start time, which corresponds to 8 p.m. Central.

How to Watch the Dolly Parton Tribute Live

Fans will have several ways to watch the special.

ABC

The tribute will air live on ABC beginning at 9 p.m. Eastern. Viewers with access to their local ABC station can watch the broadcast on television.

Disney+

The event will also stream live on Disney+, including for viewers outside the United States.

Hulu

For anyone who cannot watch the live broadcast, the special is scheduled to become available on Hulu the next day, October 22.

What Will the CMA Dolly Parton Tribute Include?

The two-hour special is expected to combine live musical performances, archival footage and personal stories celebrating different chapters of Parton’s remarkable career.

The program will explore her work as a singer, songwriter and entertainer while also recognizing her contributions as a humanitarian and entrepreneur.

The performers participating in the tribute have not yet been fully announced, so additional details are expected as the October broadcast approaches.

Where Will the Tribute Be Filmed?

The special will be filmed live at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Belmont University in Nashville.

The project is being produced through a partnership involving the Country Music Association and Belmont University, with Robert Deaton serving as executive producer.

The Nashville setting is particularly fitting for a celebration of Parton’s decades-long connection to country music.

A Celebration of Dolly Parton’s Legacy

Dolly Parton died on August 25, 2026, at age 80, according to her official website and the Country Music Association. Her official announcement described a career spanning seven decades and highlighted her impact through music, philanthropy and her work supporting children and literacy.

The CMA says the tribute is intended to celebrate the many parts of Parton’s life and career rather than focus solely on her music.

Her songwriting, performances, business ventures and humanitarian work will all be part of the broader celebration.

Proceeds Will Support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

The tribute will also continue support for one of Parton’s most recognizable charitable initiatives: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

The program provides books to young children, and the CMA and Belmont University have announced that a portion of proceeds connected with the event will benefit the organization.

What Time Is the Dolly Parton Tribute?

For viewers planning ahead, the live broadcast is scheduled for:

9 p.m. Eastern
8 p.m. Central
7 p.m. Mountain
6 p.m. Pacific

It will run for approximately two hours.

International viewers can watch through Disney+, while Hulu viewers can stream the program beginning the following day.

Final Thoughts

For Dolly Parton’s millions of fans, the CMA’s live tribute will offer an opportunity to revisit the music, stories and career that made her such an influential figure in country music and popular culture.

With live performances, archival moments and stories from people connected to her legacy, “CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton” is shaping up as one of the major televised tributes following her passing.

Mark your calendar for October 21, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.

And if you miss the live broadcast, the special will be available on Hulu the following day.