Hollywood paid an emotional tribute to the late Dolly Parton during the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Monday. Just weeks earlier, the beloved Jolene songstress passed away at the age of 80 on August 25 following a private battle with cancer. The previous year, her husband Carl Dean died at age 82. Sally Field took to the stage during the ceremony to introduce the tribute after starring alongside Parton in the 1989 film Steel Magnolias. ‘If there are truly angels on Earth, then we just lost one, Dolly Parton,’ the actress began. ‘It was my great, good fortune to have worked with Dolly in a film called Steel Magnolias. ‘And over the years, I never stopped loving her, though we lived very far apart. I adored her from day one. How could you not?’ Field continued, ‘She was genuine and humble, supportive and blisteringly funny with a bawdy sense of humor that would send any rude guy looking for a place to hide. Hollywood paid an emotional tribute to the late Dolly Parton during the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Monday ‘If there are truly angels on Earth, then we just lost one, Dolly Parton,’ Field began. ‘It was my great, good fortune to have worked with Dolly in a film called Steel Magnolias’; Parton seen in 1978 ‘I couldn’t see then what a real giant Dolly was, not just as an artist, but as a human.’Field shed light onto Parton as ‘a humanitarian whose contributions have made a profound difference in the lives of so many in her home state of Tennessee and across our country. ‘God bless you, Dolly Parton, my friend. I am not the only one on Earth that will love you forever and ever.’Reba McEntire then stepped onto the stage to perform Parton’s 1983 track Appalachian Memories. Fog flowed around her as she was also surrounded by an orchestra during her performance of the song. McEntire later took to Instagram to reflect on taking part in the tribute and wrote, ‘I will always love and miss you, Dolly. What an honor to celebrate @DollyParton tonight.’Backstage after winning an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie, Field also opened up about Parton’s tribute. ‘You know, as an actor, you spend a whole lot of time – especially me – trying to make yourself cry. And I was trying to make myself not cry,’ she shared, per The Hollywood Reporter. Field continued, ‘She was genuine and humble, supportive and blisteringly funny with a bawdy sense of humor that would send any rude guy looking for a place to hide’ ‘God bless you, Dolly Parton, my friend. I am not the only one on Earth that will love you forever and ever,’ Field concluded; Parton seen in 1990 Reba McEntire then stepped onto the stage to perform Parton’s 1983 track Appalachian Memories Fog flowed around her as she was also surrounded by an orchestra during her performance of the song McEntire later took to Instagram to reflect on taking part in the tribute and wrote, ‘I will always love and miss you, Dolly. What an honor to celebrate @DollyParton tonight’Emmy Awards 2026 winners: AT A GLANCE Outstanding Comedy Series: Widow’s BayOutstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Matthew Rhys – Widow’s BayOutstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: Matthew Rhys – The Beast in Me Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s BayOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Stephen Root, Widow’s BayOutstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: Widow’s Bay (Katie Dippold for ‘Welcome to Widow’s Bay’) Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: Widow’s Bay (Hiro Murai for “Welcome to Widow’s Bay”) Matthew Rhys made history as he became the first actor to win two leading actor awards in one night Outstanding Drama Series: The PittOutstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Noah Wyle – The Pitt Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Rhea Seehorn – PluribusOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Jean Smart – Hacks Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series: DTF St. Louis Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Allison Janney – The DiplomatOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Tom Pelphrey – TaskOutstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: Sally Field – Remarkably Bright CreaturesOutstanding Reality Competition Program: The Traitors Outstanding Variety Series: The Late Show With Stephen Colbert <!- – ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/tvshowbiz/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 – ->
‘So, it was hard,’ Field continued, before expressing that she had ‘admired’ the 9 to 5 singer. ‘I loved working with her. I never stopped loving her, there were moments when we tried to reach each other.’ The actress further discussed the close ‘bond’ she developed with Parton after working together on set of Steel Magnolias. ‘It never leaves your soul. And though Dolly and I lived so far apart, we could never make ends meet, we could never find a way. But I never stopped feeling that way about her. ‘And the times we did reach out, I think she felt that way about me. And so, I loved her.’ Fans took to X to share their thoughts on Parton’s tribute during the 2026 Emmys, with one penning, ‘The Emmys Dolly Parton section..my heart can’t take it I can’t believe she’s actually gone :((.’ ‘#Emmys Reba sounded great paying tribute to Dolly Parton,’ another wrote, and a fan added, ‘Did that #Emmys tribute to Dolly make me cry? Yes. Yes it did.’ ‘You know, as an actor, you spend a whole lot of time – especially me – trying to make yourself cry. And I was trying to make myself not cry,’ Field shared, per The Hollywood Reporter; Field seen above with Parton and Magnolias cast Fans took to X to share their thoughts on Parton’s tribute during the 2026 Emmys, with one penning, ‘The Emmys Dolly Parton section..my heart can’t take it I can’t believe she’s actually gone :((‘ One said, ‘We really went from a Dolly Parton tribute to a Catherine O’Hara tribute to all memorial moment of all the entertainment legends that have passed away within the past year up to a few weeks ago. ‘This is too much man #Emmys,’ they concluded, as another wrote, ‘That tribute Reba did for Dolly Parton was so beautiful I was SOBBING.’Parton’s image once again appeared during the main In Memoriam segment of the awards ceremony on Monday. Noah Kahan performed the song Bridge Over Troubled Water as other late stars such as Catherine O’Hara, Hayden Panettiere and Rob Reiner were also paid tribute. Home Alone actor Macaulay Culkin was joined by Annie Murphy and Dan Levy as they tearfully introduced Kahan to the stage while reflecting on O’Hara’s life and work. Jamie Lee Curtis also stepped onto the stage to pay tribute to Reiner and his wife Michelle. Parton passed away at the age of 80 on August 25, and her death was confirmed by her nephew Bryan Seaver in an Instagram video. Parton’s image once again appeared during the In Memoriam segment of the awards ceremony on Monday Just weeks earlier, the beloved Jolene songstress passed away at the age of 80 on August 25 following a private battle with cancer. The previous year, her husband Carl Dean died at age 82; Parton seen in 2025 in Nashville Her passing took place after being admitted to Nashville’s Vanderbilt University Medical Center with autoimmune and kidney problems, according to TMZ.Parton’s representatives soon revealed she died following a ‘brief battle with cancer’ in a statement to People. ‘Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched,’ the statement read.’After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones.’Emmy Awards 2026 winners Outstanding Drama SeriesThe DiplomatThe Gilded AgeA Knight of the Seven KingdomsParadiseThe Pitt – WINNERPluribusSlow HorsesYour Friends and Neighbors Noah Wyle led The Pitt to an Outstanding Drama Series honor Outstanding Comedy SeriesAbbott ElementaryThe BearHacksMargo’s Got Money TroublesNobody Wants ThisOnly Murders in the BuildingShrinkingWidow’s Bay – WINNER Outstanding Limited or Anthology SeriesAll Her FaultThe Beast in MeBeefDTF St. Louis – WINNERLove Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama SeriesCarrie Coon, The Gilded AgeChase Infiniti, The TestamentsKeri Russell, The DiplomatRhea Seehorn, Pluribus – WINNERZendaya, Euphoria Rhea Seehorrn was recognized for her work in Pluribus Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama SeriesSterling K. Brown, ParadiseGary Oldman, Slow HorsesMark Ruffalo, TaskRufus Sewell, The DiplomatNoah Wyle, The Pitt – WINNER Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesTaylor Dearden, The PittFiona Dourif, The PittAllison Janney, The Diplomat – WINNERKatherine LaNasa, The PittSepideh Moafi, The PittJulianne Nicholson, ParadiseKarolina Wydra, Pluribus Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesPatrick Ball, The PittBilly Crudup, The Morning ShowShawn Hatosy, The PittGerran Howell, The PittJack Lowden, Slow HorsesTom Pelphrey, Task – WINNERCarlos-Manuel Vesga, Pluribus Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy SeriesQuinta Brunson, Abbott ElementaryAyo Edebiri, The BearElle Fanning, Margo’s Got Money TroublesLisa Kudrow, The ComebackJean Smart, Hacks – WINNER Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy SeriesYahya Abdul-Mateen II, Wonder ManSteve Carell, RoosterMatthew Rhys, Widow’s Bay – WINNERJason Segel, ShrinkingMartin Short, Only Murders in the BuildingDale Dickey, Widow’s Bay Matthew Rhys became the first actor to win two leading actor awards in one night Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesHannah Einbinder, HacksJanelle James, Abbott ElementaryKate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay – WINNERMichelle Pfeiffer, Margo’s Got Money TroublesMegan Stalter, HacksJessica Williams, Shrinking Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy SeriesColman Domingo, The Four SeasonsPaul W. Downs, HacksHarrison Ford, ShrinkingNick Offerman, Margo’s Got Money TroublesStephen Root, Widow’s Bay – WINNERMichael Urie, ShrinkingTyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieClaire Danes, The Beast in MeSally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures – WINNERCarey Mulligan, BeefSarah Pidgeon, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn BessetteSarah Snook, All Her Fault Sally Field was a surprise winner for Remarkably Bright Creatures Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieRiz Ahmed, BaitJason Bateman, Black RabbitCharlie Hunnam, Monster: The Ed Gein StoryOscar Isaac, BeefMatthew Rhys, The Beast in Me – WINNER Outstanding Reality Competition ProgramDancing With the StarsRuPaul’s Drag RaceSurvivorTop ChefThe Traitors – WINNER Outstanding Variety SeriesThe Daily ShowJimmy Kimmel LiveLast Week Tonight With John OliverThe Late Show With Stephen Colbert – WINNERSaturday Night Live Stephen Colbert earned an Emmy for his now cancelled talk showOutstanding Writing for a Drama SeriesThe Diplomat (Peter Akerman and Debora Cahn for “Amagansett”)The Pitt (Kirsten Pierre-Geyfman & R. Scott Gemmill for “1:00 PM”)The Pitt (Valerie Chu for “12:00 PM”)Mickey Down and Konrad Kay for “Dear Henry,” IndustryPluribus (Vince Gilligan for “We Is Us”) – WINNERSlow Horses (Will Smith for “Scars”)Task (Brad Ingelsby for “A Still Small Voice”) Outstanding Writing for a Comedy SeriesAbbott Elementary (Quinta Brunson for “Team Building”)The Chair Company (Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin for “Life goes by too f**king fast, it really does”)The Comeback (Michael Patrick King and Lisa Kudrow for “Valerie Does It All”)Hacks (Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky for “Hacks”)Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat (Anthony King for “Mergers and Acquisitions”)Widow’s Bay (Katie Dippold for “Welcome to Widow’s Bay”) – WINNER Katie Dippold had a massive night as she also earned an outstanding writing win Outstanding Directing for a Drama SeriesThe Gilded Age (Salli Richardson-Whitfield for “My Mind Is Made Up”)Paradise (Hanelle M. Culpepper for “Exodus”)The Pitt (Noah Wyle for “12:00 PM”)Pluribus (Vince Gilligan for “We Is Us”)Slow Horses (Saul Metzstein for “Scars”) – WINNERTask (Salli Richardson-Whitfield for “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a river”) Outstanding Directing for a Comedy SeriesAbbott Elementary (Randall Einhorn for “Ballgame”)The Bear (Christopher Storer for “Bears”)The Chair Company (Andrew DeYoung for “Life goes by too f**king fast, it really does”)Hacks (Lucia Aniello for “Hacks”)The Ms. Pat Show (Mary Lou Belli for “Give It Arrest”)Widow’s Bay (Hiro Murai for “Welcome to Widow’s Bay”) – WINNER Widow’s Bay’s Hiro Murai earned Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series