Dolly Parton’s Recorded Speech Airs After Posthumous Americana Honour

Dolly Parton’s voice was heard at the 2026 Americana Honours & Awards in Nashville on Wednesday, September 16, as a speech she had recorded before her death was played during the ceremony.
The country music icon was posthumously honoured with the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ryman Auditorium. The award had been announced on August 6, several weeks before Parton died on August 25 at the age of 80.
In the recorded message, Parton reflected on her roots in East Tennessee and the influence of Americana music on her career. She recalled returning to the region in 1997 to make her album Hungry Again, a project that helped lead her towards a series of blueg...