The Country Music Association has set a live two-hour tribute concert for Dolly Parton. CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton will be filmed at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville and air Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, then the next day on Hulu.
This is the industry’s official concert special after Parton’s death on Aug. 25 at age 80. Performers have not been named. In-person tickets will be limited — four per purchase — and the on-sale date is still TBA. CMA is collecting names for ticket alerts now.
How to Watch
| Platform | When |
|---|---|
| ABC | Live, Oct. 21, 9 p.m. ET |
| Disney+ | Live with ABC (U.S. and internationally, per CMA) |
| Hulu | Next day |
You do not need a Nashville ticket to see the show. Most fans will watch at home. If you want the room, treat this like a CMA Awards-level on-sale: small venue, national demand, four-ticket cap.
CMA announcement coverage: Variety · People · Deadline
Nashville Tickets (When They Drop)
Venue: Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, Belmont University, Nashville
Event: Live taping of the ABC special
Limit: 4 tickets per buyer
On-sale: Not announced
Alerts: Watch CMA and cmaawards.com for the waitlist / on-sale post
When the sale opens, use the official CMA or Ticketmaster link only. A room this size will not last an hour on the public internet. After that, compare:
- Official CMA / Ticketmaster resale (if enabled)
- StubHub
- SeatGeek
- Capital City Tickets
Do not buy Instagram or Facebook “Dolly tribute” listings. This is a taped TV event with tight security and mobile entry.
A portion of proceeds from the special is slated for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, with CMA and Belmont donating from the event and Disney also supporting the program.
What the Night Is
CMA describes the special as a celebration of Parton as artist, songwriter, entertainer, humanitarian, and entrepreneur — performances, archival footage, and personal stories, not a funeral service. It is being produced with Belmont, which premiered Dolly: A True Original Musical and partners with CMA on entertainment education.
No lineup yet. Expect country names first. Cross-genre guests are possible given Parton’s catalog. Do not pay a premium today based on a rumored singer.
This Concert vs. Other Dolly Events
Do not mix the products:
- This show: Live CMA/ABC special, Oct. 21, Nashville, tickets TBA
- DOLLYFEST: Estate-produced two-weekend festival concept for Nashville and London in 2027. Dates and tickets not out
- Tribute acts / drag brunches / local cover nights: Different events, different sellers
- DOLLY: A True Original Musical on Broadway: a biographical musical, not this taping
If a listing does not say CMA Presents I Will Always Love You at the Fisher Center on Oct. 21, it is not this concert.
How to Prepare for the Ticket Drop
- Create or clean up a Ticketmaster account now.
- Sign up on CMA channels for on-sale alerts.
- Decide ABC-at-home vs. Nashville-in-person before the queue starts.
- Cap your bid. A 1,000-ish-seat campus hall plus a national TV brand will produce ugly resale.
- If you miss seats, watch the special. That is the product built for everyone else.
FAQ
When is the Dolly Parton tribute concert?
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, 9 p.m. ET.
Where is it filmed?
Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, Belmont University, Nashville.
Who is performing?
Not announced as of Sept. 16, 2026.
Are tickets on sale?
Not yet. Limit will be four per purchase.
Is it a public memorial?
CMA is framing it as a celebration special. Parton’s estate has separately said a traditional memorial was not what she wanted and pointed fans toward DOLLYFEST in 2027.
Does a ticket donation go to charity?
CMA and Belmont plan a donation from proceeds to Imagination Library.
Bottom line: The official Dolly Parton tribute concert is a live CMA special from Belmont on Oct. 21. Watch ABC if you want the show. Join the CMA ticket alert if you want the room. Ignore every “Dolly tribute” listing that cannot name the Fisher Center and the Oct. 21 taping.
This site is independent and is not affiliated with the CMA, ABC, Disney, Belmont University, the Parton estate, or any ticket marketplace. Some links may be affiliate links. On-sale times, lineup, and prices will change. Confirm details on official CMA and ABC pages before you buy.
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