Honoring a Legend
The 2026 VMAs are set to feature a heartfelt tribute to Dolly Parton, who passed away on August 25 at the age of 80. Kacey Musgraves has been tapped to perform in honor of the country icon, marking her first VMAs appearance since 2021. Musgraves has a long history of celebrating Parton, having participated in star-studded tributes for her at both the 2016 CMA Awards and the 2019 Grammys.
While Parton is widely considered one of the most significant artists in music history, she never received a VMA nomination during her career. This is largely because country music held a limited presence on the network for much of her peak years, and the award for Best Country was only introduced by the show in 2025.
A Night of Tributes
The upcoming broadcast will highlight several musical legacies. Alongside the Parton tribute, the show will feature salutes to George Michael and the band Nirvana. Nirvana is also slated to receive the Video Vanguard Award during the ceremony. The show, hosted by Snoop Dogg, will feature an opening performance by Madonna.
Musgraves is also competing for a trophy of her own this year, having received a nomination for Best Country for her track "Dry Spell." Fans can catch the ceremony live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27.
Why it matters
Dolly Parton’s influence transcends genres, and these tributes serve as a major moment to honor a trailblazer whose legacy continues to shape the music industry, even if her work predated modern award show categories.
