Some of country music’s biggest stars gathered on Wednesday evening (October 21) to pay tribute to beloved legend Dolly Parton at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Country Music Association’s CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton featured performances by Ashley McBryde, Béla Fleck, Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Ella Langley, Kelsea Ballerini, Kristen Bell, Kristin Chenoweth, Lady A, Lainey Wilson, Little Big Town, Lukas Nelson, Molly Tuttle, Reba McEntire, Ricky Skaggs, Sierra Hull, Vince Gill and Zac Brown, plus appearances by Amy Grant, Kimberly Williams-Paisley and others throughout the two-hour televised special. The Country Music Association announced in a press release issued Thursday morning (October 22) that, combined with Belmont University, The Walt Disney Company and the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, $1 million was donated to Parton’s Imagination Library. She started the initiative in 1995, and to date, the program has gifted more than 343,000,000 books to children.

“While the television special celebrated the music and remarkable career that have touched generations of fans, the donation honors another defining part of Dolly’s life: her deeply personal commitment to inspiring a love of reading and encouraging children to dream big,” the press release states. “Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write, Dolly launched the Imagination Library in her home county in East Tennessee in 1995 with a simple dream: to inspire a love of reading in young children.”

Sarah Trahern, retiring CMA CEO, said in a statement, in part, “Dolly has always brought people together, and we built last night’s event with that same intention.” Incoming CEO Brittany Schaffer added, “Through her music, her philanthropy and her heart, Dolly gave all of us a reason to come together. We are so proud that our community united for a magical evening that carries forward her legacy of love and literacy for generations of children around the world.”

Parton “died peacefully” on August 25 in Nashville, according to an official announcement issued at the time. She was 80. Representatives for the “I Will Always Love You” icon said in a statement to PEOPLE that day, “after bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones.” Parton was laid to rest beside husband Carl Dean, who died in March 2025. He was 82. Parton was known “as a beloved singer, songwriter, philanthropist, actress, playwright, and author,” according to the announcement on August 25.

CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton aired live on Wednesday evening on ABC and Disney+. It is now available to stream on Hulu.

Scroll below to see the stunning red carpet looks as celebrities arrived to honorbeloved country legend (and fashion icon) Parton.

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