Dolly Parton received the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Americana Awards and Honors in Nashville on Wednesday, September 16, through a video recorded before Parton died on August 25. The posthumous presentation filled the Ryman Auditorium with an emotional tribute to her roots in country, bluegrass, and acoustic music. Emmylou Harris introduced the recording before Parton appeared onscreen to accept the honor. In the message, Dolly Parton connected Americana music to the Smoky Mountains, her 1997 album Hungry Again , and the bluegrass projects that helped launch what she described as a creative renaissance in her career. Why This Award Hit So Hard Dolly Parton’s recorded remarks thanked the Americana Music Association and reflected on how younger listeners and roots music communities embraced her later work. The ceremony then turned to Brandi Carlile and I’m With Her, who performed Parton’s “Coat of Many Colors” in her memory. Brandi Carlile has also been honoring Dolly Parton during her Human tour, performing “Coat of Many Colors,” “Jolene,” and “I Will Always Love You” at her Nashville arena show on August 29. After Parton’s death, Carlile wrote on Instagram that Parton consistently offered acceptance and compassion, particularly to LGBTQ people, while refusing to engage with questions that did not serve those values.