DOLLY PARTON JUST RECEIVED ONE OF MUSIC’S HIGHEST HONORS 🌟💖 — BUT HER EMOTIONAL ACCEPTANCE WILL LOOK VERY DIFFERENT THIS YEAR Dolly Parton is being celebrated for a legacy that has stretched far beyond country music, with one of Americana’s most prestigious honors now being added to her remarkable career. The legendary singer-songwriter will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Americana Honors & Awards, joining an extraordinary list of previous recipients. But fans may notice something different when the big night arrives, as Dolly will not be accepting the honor in person. After facing health challenges that have caused her to scale back some public appearances this year, the country icon will deliver her acceptance message virtually instead. Even so, her career continues moving forward with major projects on the horizon, proving that Dolly Parton’s influence is nowhere near slowing down. And the next chapter of her incredible legacy may be even bigger than fans realize.

Dolly Parton is a country music and cultural icon, and on Sept. 16 at the Ryman Auditorium, she will be honored for her influence on Americana, too. Parton will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Americana Honors & Awards in Nashville and will accept via a virtual video message. Previous honorees include Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson and Bonnie Raitt. Parton will join Robert Plant, who was previously announced, as one of this year’s honorees.

“We at the Americana Music Association have long admired Ms. Parton’s work as a singer, songwriter, entertainer and one of the greatest ambassadors music has ever known,” Jed Hilly, executive director of the Americana Music Association, said in a statement. “With all of her extraordinary accomplishments — from philanthropy to television, film and business — our desire is to honor Dolly for what has always been at the heart of her legacy: a definitive songwriter and artist whose songs have shaped generations.”

Despite some health challenges that have forced Parton to scale back her public activities this past year, she did make an appearance at the opening of her Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop in Cornersville, Tennessee, back in June. And the Parton empire is nowhere near slowing down: her Nashville hotel, the SongTeller, is opening in September and will house two venues (one called Jolene’s) and a museum, the Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum. Her life story, A True Original Musical, is also headed to Broadway, opening Jan. 19 at the St. James Theater in New York City — a day which is also Parton’s 81st birthday.:

SOURCE: ROLLING STONE