Carrie Underwood was joined by several Nashville tribute concert performers as they sang the soaring ballad
Carrie Underwood performed the title track of Wednesday night’s live TV special, “A Celebration of Dolly Parton,” closing the ABC broadcast with a soaring rendition of Parton’s 1974 classic, joined near the end by other evening performers.
The singer appeared in a flowing white dress onstage, delivering the night’s emotional final tribute. The show also featured Zac Brown performing a duet with Parton’s prerecorded vocals from “Butterfly,” and Ella Langley offering her rendition of the 1974 hit “Jolene.”
The song, featured on Parton’s “Jolene” album, was originally written as a farewell to Porter Wagoner, who hired her for regular appearances on his television variety program. Wagoner, a rhinestone‑
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In 1992, the ballad regained widespread fame when Whitney Houston recorded it for The Bodyguard soundtrack. Following Parton’s death in August, artists such as Brandi Carlile, Kacey Musgraves, Orville Peck, and John Mayer have performed the song in her honor.
Held at Nashville’s Belmont University, “CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton” will begin streaming on Hulu on October 22. The program features performances by Langley, Brown, Underwood, and tributes from Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, and others, with all proceeds supporting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
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