Dolly Parton received the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award in a pre-recorded video message played at the 2026 Americana Awards and Honors on Wednesday at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Parton died on August 25.
In the video, Parton said: “Roots music, or what is now called Americana music, is what I grew up playing back in the Smoky Mountains. It’s that same music that drew me back to East Tennessee in 1997 to write and record my album, Hungry Again.”
She credited the Americana music community with embracing her bluegrass and acoustic albums, an era she described as “a musical renaissance of sorts” in her career. “I want to thank everyone at the AMA for recognizing me with this award,” Parton said, closing with her signature phrase: “Just know that I will always love you.”
Emmylou Harris introduced the video tribute. The award presentation was followed by a performance from Brandi Carlile and I’m With Her.
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Source: Rolling Stone
