In a heartfelt gesture, a video message from the late Dolly Parton was shared at the 2026 Americana Honours & Awards. On Wednesday, Parton was posthumously awarded the Americana Lifetime Achievement Award. 

The legendary singer passed away after a brief battle with cancer at the age of 80 on August 25. At the ceremony honouring Parton and Robert Plant, Parton’s friend Emmylou Harris delivered the opening remarks about the singer’s legacy, and a video of Parton accepting the award played, which concluded with a performance from Brandi Carlile.