Taylor Swift will not take part in the planned tribute to Dolly Parton at the 2026 Country Music Association Awards, according to a source. The ceremony will honour the late country music icon on November 18, but Swift will not join the performers taking the stage for the special segment.
CMA source confirms Taylor Swift won’t be participating in Dolly Parton tribute at CMA Awards this year
The CMA Awards will feature a tribute to Dolly Parton during its 60th annual ceremony at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. However, the organisers have not yet revealed which artists will perform in the segment, and E! News has confirmed that Taylor Swift will not participate. The Country Music Association has announced several performers for the November 18 event, including Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert, Cody Johnson, Ella Langley, Luke Combs and Megan Moroney.
The updated lineup also features artists such as Tim McGraw, Lainey Wilson, Vince Gill, Zach Top, Tucker Wetmore and The Red Clay Strays. The CMA confirmed the Parton tribute in its official announcement, saying it would celebrate the singer’s influence on country music and the wider entertainment industry. The ceremony will air live from Nashville on ABC and Disney+ before becoming available on Hulu the following day.
Parton died on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80. Musicians, celebrities, and fans paid tribute to her, celebrating her music, kindness, and decades of contributions to the entertainment industry. Although Swift will not perform at the CMA Awards tribute, she has spoken publicly about how much Parton meant to her. After the singer’s death, Swift shared an emotional statement with E! News. She called Parton an inspiration who encouraged people to embrace who they are. “A world without Dolly doesn’t feel possible, real, or right,” Swift said. “She was truly the gift that kept on giving. Dolly gave us someone to look up to while encouraging us to be who we are as individuals.” The latest update comes after celebrity gossip account Deuxmoi suggested that Swift might take part in the planned tribute to Parton at the 60th annual CMA Awards.
