Carrie Underwood became visibly emotional as she paid tribute to Dolly Parton during her August 29 performance at Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox, Massachusetts, just days after the country legend’s death.
Underwood dedicated her 2013 hit “See You Again” to Parton, first taking a moment to speak candidly to the audience about the enormous impact her longtime friend and musical inspiration had on her life and on the world.
Carrie’s Tanglewood performance was officially scheduled for August 29, 2026, marking her debut at the famed venue.
Carrie Underwood remembers Dolly Parton
Before beginning the song, Underwood told the crowd she wanted to acknowledge someone who had been far more than a musical influence.
She described Parton as “one of the nicest people” she had ever met and spoke about the shock of losing someone whose influence reached so many people.
“It is such a shock, I feel like to the whole world, the ripples… it’s like time just stood still,” Underwood told the audience.
She then reflected on the enduring nature of Parton’s legacy, saying she was someone who “transcends all space and all time.”
Underwood also spoke about Parton’s faith, saying she knew where the country icon was and how deeply she loved Jesus.
“She is gone, but she is not forgotten,” she told the crowd.
Carrie Underwood paid tribute to the legendary Dolly Parton on stage last night. She wore a custom jacket with her initials on the back & told the crowd “She is always with us, as long as she’s in [our heads] & [our hearts]” 🤍
📷: Jessicaonairdj pic.twitter.com/gxINth1JrQ
— Carrie Underwood UK (@CarrieU_UK) August 30, 2026
“She’s not gone. I know exactly where she is.”
Underwood had already shared an emotional tribute to Parton following news of her death on August 25.
In a post shared on social media, the singer described Parton as the “epitome of faith, grace, talent, beauty and humor.”
Underwood also highlighted Parton’s faith and the way she made people around her feel special.
“She’s not gone. I know exactly where she is,” Underwood wrote.
She went on to say that Parton had been “one of one” and that nobody would ever come close to matching her.
The message ended with a reflection on the singer’s death and faith: “It’s alright to be sad that this world lost a legend, but heaven gained an angel. Well done, good and faithful Dolly. Welcome home.”
The tribute was shared shortly after Parton died at the age of 80, prompting an enormous wave of remembrance from fellow musicians and fans.
Carrie singing ‘See you Again’ (part 2) for Dolly. Last 15 seconds are so sweet and certainly left tears in our eyes @TanglewoodMA @carrieunderwood pic.twitter.com/QGDFNpwRP0
— Dennis Gallagher (@dengal) August 30, 2026
A long musical connection
Underwood and Parton shared a connection that stretched back years.
The two artists worked together on multiple occasions, including Underwood’s 2009 An All-Star Holiday Special, when they performed Parton’s iconic “I Will Always Love You” together.
They also appeared together at the 2019 CMA Awards.
That history made Underwood’s decision to choose “See You Again” for her Tanglewood tribute especially poignant.
Introducing the song, she explained that it felt right for the moment because so many people have someone they love who is no longer here but whom they hope to see again.
“We all have somebody in our lives that is no longer with us, but we know that we’ll see them again,” she told the audience.
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“See You Again” becomes a farewell to Dolly
Underwood then performed “See You Again,” her 2013 song about the hope of being reunited with someone after separation.
Fan-recorded footage from the Tanglewood performance captured the emotional final moments of the tribute, with viewers describing the ending as particularly moving.
Underwood also wore a custom jacket featuring Parton’s initials, adding another personal touch to the tribute. Footage and photographs shared online showed the singer honoring Parton as the crowd watched her performance.
The moment became another example of how artists across country music have been using their stages to remember Parton in the days following her death.
Dolly’s legacy continues through the country music community
Parton’s death has prompted tributes from artists across generations.
At the Grand Ole Opry on August 29, performers including Carly Pearce, Kathy Mattea, Ketch Secor, Molly Tuttle and Parton’s niece Jada Star gathered for a special tribute to the late singer. The evening concluded with a performance of “9 to 5” before Parton herself appeared on screen singing “I Will Always Love You.”
Other artists have also paid tribute through their concerts. Vince Gill performed “I Will Always Love You” in Kansas City on August 27, while Brad Paisley became emotional while performing their 2005 duet “When I Get Where I’m Going” during a concert in Connecticut.
For Underwood, however, the tribute at Tanglewood was deeply personal.
As she stood before the Massachusetts audience and sang “See You Again,” her message was ultimately one of remembrance rather than goodbye.
Dolly Parton may be gone, Underwood suggested, but the music, faith, kindness and influence she left behind will continue to connect generations long after her final performance.