The Aporia · Kacey Musgraves pays tribute to Dolly Parton at VMAs 2026 with pink sequins, feathers and huge hair

Kacey Musgraves pays tribute to Dolly Parton at VMAs 2026 with pink sequins, feathers and huge hair

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Fishman, E., & Matera, A. (2026, September 28). Kacey Musgraves pays tribute to Dolly Parton at VMAs 2026 with pink sequins, feathers and huge hair. New York Post. https://pagesix.com/2026/09/27/style/kacey-musgraves-pays-tribute-to-dolly-parton-at-vmas-2026-with-pink-sequins-feathers-and-huge-hair/

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Quick Summary

Kacey Musgraves paid tribute to Dolly Parton at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards by performing "I Will Always Love You" in a costume inspired by Parton's signature style, including a hot pink sequined gown and voluminous hair. The performance featured an opening clip of Parton singing her original version from "The Dolly Parton Show." Musgraves has long admired Parton as one of her biggest influences, participating in previous tributes to the country icon at major award shows before Parton's death on August 25, 2026, aged 80.

Written by AI on 2026-09-28, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

At the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, Kacey Musgraves paid an emotional tribute to the late country icon Dolly Parton by performing her signature song “I Will Always Love You.” The performance was preceded by a video clip of Dolly, who passed away earlier that year after battling cancer at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Musgraves, dressed in a pink sequined outfit with feathered cuffs and sporting high-volume hair inspired by Parton’s signature look, sang in front of a star-studded audience. The tribute was part of her first VMAs performance since 2016 and came as she was nominated for Best Country for “Dry Spell.” Musgraves has long cited Parton as one of her biggest musical influences, participating in previous tributes at the CMA Awards and Grammys.

Written for “Kacey Musgrapes VMAs Tribute” on 2026-10-30, grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.

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66/100

New York Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

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Elana Fishman

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Claims (9 extracted, 0 hedged)

During the VMAs 2026 telecast on Sunday night, Kacey Musgraves honored the late Dolly Parton with an emotional rendition of “I Will Always Love You.” asserted

I → honor → You

The performance began with a clip of Parton singing her 1974 hit during an episode of “The Dolly Parton Show;” the icon often closed the variety show by singing the classic. And, when it came to her outfit for the performance, Musgraves drew inspiration from Parton herself, wearing a hot pink sequined gown with feathered cuffs. Her hair, cascading down her shoulders, boasted a height and volume that — while not quite as high as Dolly’s — would still have made the southern-born Parton smile. asserted

Parton → begin → Dolly

She also wore purple eye shadow to match that of Parton in the clip shown on screen. asserted

She → wear → screen

While Musgraves and Parton never formally collaborated, the “High Horse” singer has cited the “Jolene” icon as one of her biggest musical influences. asserted

singer → collaborate → influences

At the 2016 CMA Awards, she participated in an all-star salute to Dolly Parton alongside Reba McEntire, Jennifer Nettles, Martina McBride and Carrie Underwood. asserted

she → participate → McEntire

She took part in another tribute to the country legend at the 2019 Grammys with Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Maren Morris and Little Big Town, describing Parton as the “ultimate songwriter” at the time. asserted

She → take → time

When the “I Will Always Love You” songstress died on Aug. 25 at age 80 following a “brief battle with cancer,” Musgraves was among the many musicians to publicly mourn Parton. “Dolly. asserted

Musgraves → love → Parton

This really really hurts,” she posted on X at the time, adding, “The world feels a lot less sparkly all of a sudden.” asserted

world → hurt → time

Musgraves’ performance tonight marked her first time gracing the VMAs stage in five years, and she’s nominated in the Best Country category this year for her song “Dry Spell.” asserted

she → mark → song

Kacey Musgraves pays tribute to Dolly Parton at VMAs 2026 with pink sequins, feathers and huge hair

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Claims (9 extracted, 0 hedged)