Carrie Underwood brought an emotional close to a special honoring Dolly Parton with a powerful performance of one of the country legend’s most beloved songs.
On Wednesday, October 21, Underwood took the stage for CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton, wearing a flowing white dress as she sang Parton’s classic ballad I Will Always Love You. Several other performers joined her near the end, creating a moving finale to the ABC broadcast.
The tribute also included Zac Brown performing Butterfly alongside Parton’s prerecorded vocals and Ella Langley singing her own version of Jolene. Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, and many other country stars also took part in the celebration of Parton’s lasting musical legacy.
One of the song’s most moving passages captures the heartfelt farewell:
“I hope life treats you kind
And I hope that you have all
That you ever dreamed of
And I wish you joy
And happiness
But above all of this
I wish you love
And I will always love you”
Fans react to Carrie Underwood’s emotional performance
Viewers quickly took to social media to praise Underwood’s rendition, with many calling it one of the night’s standout moments. One fan described it as “absolutely breathtaking,” while another called her performance “the best performance of the night.”
Others praised Underwood for keeping the arrangement simple and honoring Parton’s original style. One viewer wrote that she “kept it simple and no crazy runs… kept it Dolly style,” while another said, “Carrie did Dolly proud.”
Fans react to Carrie Underwood’s emotional performance
Viewers quickly took to social media to praise Underwood’s rendition, with many calling it one of the night’s standout moments. One fan described it as “absolutely breathtaking,” while another called her performance “the best performance of the night.”
Others praised Underwood for keeping the arrangement simple and honoring Parton’s original style. One viewer wrote that she “kept it simple and no crazy runs… kept it Dolly style,” while another said, “Carrie did Dolly proud.”
The story behind Dolly Parton’s iconic song
Although I Will Always Love You became one of Parton’s signature songs, she originally wrote it as a farewell to Porter Wagoner, the singer who helped launch her career by giving her a place on his television variety show.
Parton and Wagoner became close collaborators, releasing 13 duet albums together and winning the Country Music Association Award for Vocal Duo of the Year three times.
In 1974, Parton decided to leave Wagoner’s show and pursue a solo career. She expressed her gratitude and said goodbye through the song, which later became a country music classic.
Parton revisited the ballad in 2007 when she performed it for Wagoner during a celebration of his 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
“If it hadn’t been for Porter, I wouldn’t have written this song,” Parton said at the time. “This is kind of my goodbye song to Porter.”
The song reached an even wider audience in 1992 when Whitney Houston recorded it for The Bodyguard soundtrack. Houston’s version became a global hit, securing the song’s place in music history.
Since Parton’s death in August, artists including Brandi Carlile, Kacey Musgraves, Orville Peck, and John Mayer have also performed the beloved ballad in tribute to the
