Nashville Unscripted · Dolly Parton
At the 2026 Emmy Awards on September 14, Reba McEntire performed Dolly’s “Appalachian Memories” wearing pieces from Dolly’s personal jewelry collection — a butterfly ring and rhinestone earrings loaned by Dolly’s niece. Sally Field introduced her. The whole country cried.
Dolly Parton received a moving tribute at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 14, 2026 — three weeks after her death. Reba McEntire performed Dolly’s 1983 song “Appalachian Memories” during the ceremony’s in memoriam segment, wearing pieces from Dolly’s own jewelry collection. Sally Field, her Steel Magnolias co-star, delivered the introduction.
The Tribute
78th Primetime Emmy Awards · September 14, 2026
Performer: Reba McEntire · Song: “Appalachian Memories” (1983)
Introduction: Sally Field
Jewelry: Dolly’s personal butterfly ring and rhinestone earrings from “Does He Love You” music video
Loaned by: The Dolly Archive, through Dolly’s niece Rebecca
Honor Dolly in Nashville
Stay at Her Own Hotel on Broadway
The SongTeller Hotel — Dolly’s own Nashville hotel — is open at 211 Commerce Street with two live music venues and her museum opening October 2026.
Book the SongTeller Hotel → Browse All Nashville Hotels →What Happened at the Emmys
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards took place on September 14, 2026 — less than three weeks after Dolly Parton’s death on August 25. Television has always been part of Dolly’s story: her acting debut in 9 to 5 (1980), her role in Steel Magnolias (1989), her many TV specials, and the Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings anthology series on Netflix. The Emmys honoring her was entirely fitting.
Sally Field — Dolly’s Steel Magnolias co-star, the woman who played her closest friend in the film — introduced the tribute, describing Dolly as “a real giant” and “an angel on Earth.” Then Reba McEntire took the stage.
Sally Field’s Introduction
“A real giant. An angel on Earth.”
— Sally Field, introducing the Dolly Parton tribute at the 2026 Emmy Awards
Reba McEntire’s Performance
Reba McEntire chose to perform “Appalachian Memories” — Dolly’s 1983 song about the mountains of East Tennessee, the landscape that shaped everything Dolly became. It was the right song. Not the most famous Dolly song, not the one the whole room could sing along to — but the one that went deepest, the one about home.
Reba and Dolly’s friendship spans decades — they performed together, supported each other throughout their careers, and shared a deep mutual respect. Reba’s performance wasn’t just a tribute from one country star to another. It was personal.
Reba McEntire on Instagram After the Show
“It was so special to have Dolly with me on stage. I’ll never forget getting to wear her jewelry 🦋”
— Reba McEntire, Instagram, September 14, 2026
Dolly’s Jewelry — The Details
The jewelry Reba wore wasn’t costume or replica — it was Dolly’s actual personal collection, loaned through The Dolly Archive via Dolly’s niece Rebecca.
The Butterfly Ring
From Dolly’s Personal Collection
A butterfly ring from Dolly’s personal collection — the butterfly motif ran throughout her life and career as a symbol of transformation and beauty. The butterfly appears on the UT Vols helmet stickers honoring her memory, throughout the SongTeller Hotel design, and in countless pieces of her personal jewelry. Reba wearing Dolly’s actual butterfly ring on stage at the Emmys was the most personal detail of the entire tribute.
The Rhinestone Earrings
From the “Does He Love You” Music Video
The rhinestone earrings Reba wore were the same earrings Dolly wore in the music video for “Does He Love You” — the 1993 duet between Dolly and Reba that became one of the defining songs of their friendship. Wearing earrings from that specific video, for that specific song, on stage at the Emmys — that is the kind of detail that makes a tribute unforgettable.
How It Happened
Reba’s manager Justin McIntosh arranged the jewelry loan, reaching out to Dolly’s niece Rebecca through The Dolly Archive. “My manager surprised me by asking Dolly’s niece, Rebecca, if they would loan some of Dolly’s jewelry for me to wear. They graciously said yes, and it was an honor to have a little piece of her on stage with me,” Reba told Vogue. “I picked a pair of rhinestone earrings and a butterfly ring. There’s nothing that says Dolly more than rhinestones and butterflies!”
The Week Nashville Said Goodbye
The Emmys tribute on September 14 and the Americana Honors tribute on September 16 — two nights apart — marked the moment America formally said goodbye to Dolly Parton on its biggest stages. Television honored her at the Emmys. Music honored her at the Ryman. Nashville was at the center of both.
- September 14 — Emmy Awards: Reba McEntire performs “Appalachian Memories” wearing Dolly’s personal jewelry. Sally Field introduces her. Read about the Americana tribute →
- September 16 — Americana Honors at the Ryman: Dolly posthumously receives the Lifetime Achievement Award. Emmylou Harris introduces her. Brandi Carlile performs Coat of Many Colors. Full story →
- September 17 — Airport vote: Nashville Airport Authority votes 6-0 to rename BNA as Dolly Parton International Airport. Full story →
- September 25 — 9 to 5 Day: Tennessee, New York, California, and Pennsylvania all moving to designate September 25 as an annual tribute. Full story →
→ Dolly Parton Americana Award 2026: The Complete Story
→ Dolly Parton & the Ryman Auditorium: Her 57-Year Legacy
→ Dolly Parton Nashville Memorials: Where to Pay Your Respects
→ Dolly Parton Songs: The Stories Behind Her Greatest Hits
→ Dolly Parton Nashville: The Complete Guide
Information sourced from verified reporting on the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards. Quotes attributed to Reba McEntire sourced from her Instagram and Vogue interview. This post contains affiliate links.