Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library started in one Tennessee county in 1995. It has since mailed nearly 308 million free books to children.
Tonight, some of the biggest names in country music gather in Nashville to honor the woman behind it, less than two months after her death on August 25 at age 80.
CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton airs live tonight, Wednesday, October 21, on ABC and Disney+. When locals talk about Dolly, one even called her Tennessee’s queen, and tonight’s lineup treats her like one.
Here’s when to watch where you live, who’s performing, and the part of tonight that goes straight back to Tennessee families.
What Time It Airs Where You Live in Tennessee
The two-hour special runs from 8 to 10 p.m. Central, so your start time depends on which side of the time line you’re on.
| Where you watch | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville, Murfreesboro, Clarksville, and the rest of Central Time | 8 p.m. Central | 10 p.m. Central |
| Knoxville, Chattanooga, and the rest of Eastern Time | 9 p.m. Eastern | 11 p.m. Eastern |
Watch live: ABC, or stream on Disney+.
Watch later: Starting Thursday, October 22, the special streams on Hulu and Disney+.enjoy the performances without having to rearrange their evening plans.
From Reba to Bluegrass: Who’s Taking the Stage
Dolly’s music crossed country, bluegrass, pop, and Broadway, and the lineup ABC announced follows her across all of it.
Country stars: Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Lainey Wilson, Kelsea Ballerini, Darius Rucker, Little Big Town, Zac Brown, Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde, Ella Langley, Lady A, and Lukas Nelson.
Bluegrass: Ricky Skaggs, Béla Fleck, Molly Tuttle, and Sierra Hull.
Broadway and beyond: Kristin Chenoweth and Kristen Bell.
Special guests: Amy Grant and Kimberly Williams-Paisley.
Producers are also promising surprise tributes from Dolly’s friends across the entertainment world, along with archival footage and personal stories. The show is in the hands of Robert Deaton, executive producer of the CMA Awards since 2007.
CMA CEO Sarah Trahern put it simply: the industry “owes her a debt of gratitude that words alone cannot repay.”
Why the Tribute Is at Belmont
The stage tonight already has Dolly’s fingerprints on it. In 2025, Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts hosted the world premiere of Dolly: A True Original Musical.
The school also runs DOLLY U, a program built around learning from Parton’s career as a songwriter, performer, and entrepreneur. A Belmont student ensemble connected to that program will perform during tonight’s broadcast, a reminder that the next generation of Nashville musicians is still studying her.
Can You Still Get a Seat?
Probably not a regular one. The CMA lists regular tickets as sold out, though it has advertised a limited number of premium experiences, and availability can change.
For most Tennesseans, the best seat is at home: two hours, dozens of performers, and no hunting for a parking spot near Belmont’s campus.
The Tennessee Program Behind Tonight’s Donation
The CMA and Belmont University will donate proceeds from the special to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. They haven’t said how much.
For a lot of Tennessee families, that program is personal. Dolly started it in Sevier County in 1995 to mail free, age-appropriate books to enrolled children every month, from birth until their fifth birthday. It grew into an international program, but Tennessee got there first: in 2004, it became the first state to offer the Imagination Library in all 95 counties.
And there’s more coming. State leaders have announced a plan to fully fund the program’s book and mailing costs statewide starting in 2027. Today, the state covers half and local partners in each county cover the rest.
If there’s a child under five in your house, you can sign them up through the Imagination Library. It’s a fitting way to honor Dolly tonight, and the books keep coming long after the credits roll.
Where to Honor Dolly in Tennessee
If tonight leaves you wanting to get closer to her story, the best place is the one she built in her home county.
Dollywood, Pigeon Forge: Beyond the rides, the park celebrates Appalachian music, traditional crafts, and Dolly’s Tennessee roots, with exhibits about her life and career. Locals say Christmas is the best time to go, with millions of lights and seasonal shows.
Stay over: One local’s favorite way to do Dollywood is in the off-season, with a stay at the park’s DreamMore Resort when the crowds thin out.
Watch tonight: ABC and Disney+ at 8 p.m. Central and 9 p.m. Eastern, or on Hulu and Disney+ starting Thursday.
Details via the Country Music Association, ABC, Country Now, and WZTV.
