Kacey Musgraves honored Dolly Parton with a moving performance of “I Will Always Love You” at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, paying tribute to the late country legend who passed away last month at age 80. The performance can be viewed below.
Since Parton’s August 25 passing, Musgraves has woven the singer’s songs into her Middle of Nowhere tour, delivering renditions of classics such as “Here You Come Again” in Boston and “9 to 5” at Madison Square Garden. During the latter show she remarked, “I’m not over it, and I never will be. The world lost a bright light, and it’s difficult for me to speak about.”
Musgraves is nominated for Best Country Music Video at this year’s awards for the visual accompanying her Middle of Nowhere track “Dry Spell.” Though she has yet to take home a VMA, she previously earned nominations for Best Longform Video and Best Art Direction for her 2022 project Star Crossed: The Film.
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