Country music icon Dolly Parton received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Americana Honors & Awards in Nashville, Tennessee, through a pre-recorded acceptance speech made before her death.
Parton, who died on August 25 at the age of 80, appeared in the pre-taped message during the ceremony on Wednesday night, expressing her appreciation for the honour from the Americana Music Association.
In the recorded speech, the country music legend said, “Well, hey, it’s Dolly. I’m honoured to be receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association.”
Parton reflected on her early connection with Americana music and how the genre influenced her return to Tennessee to record her 1998 album Hungry Again.
“That project really opened the door to a series of bluegrass and acoustic albums that changed the course of my career in so many ways,” she continued. “Now, new fans discovered these albums, new Americana music communities embraced them, and now looking back at it all, I see this era of my career as a musical renaissance of sorts.”
She also expressed gratitude to the organisation for recognising her contribution to the genre.
“I want to thank everyone at the AMA for recognising me with this award. It’s a great honour truly, and just know that I will always love you.”
The Americana Music Association announced Parton’s Lifetime Achievement Award in early August, only weeks before her death following a brief battle with cancer. According to her manager, the singer continued working until the day she died.
Parton’s longtime friend and fellow country music star Emmylou Harris introduced the recorded message at the ceremony. Harris reflected on Parton’s legacy and said she had recorded the speech “with the same warmth, joy, and sparkle she so generously shared with us throughout her life”.
The ceremony also featured a tribute to Parton’s music, with Brandi Carlile and I’m With Her performing a cover of her song Coat of Many Colors.
