Carrie Underwood Honors Dolly Parton With Emotional Performance of “See You Again”

Carrie Underwood turned her August 29 concert at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts, into a deeply personal farewell to Dolly Parton, dedicating her song “See You Again” to the country legend and reflecting on the faith, kindness and lasting influence that made Parton so beloved.

Underwood spoke about Parton before beginning the song, describing her as a tremendous influence and one of the nicest people she had ever met. Her remarks came just days after Parton’s death, which sent a wave of grief through the country music community and far beyond.

The moment carried particular weight for Underwood, who had shared the stage with Parton several times over the years.

Carrie Underwood remembers Dolly Parton

Underwood and Parton first worked together on Carrie’s 2009 An All-Star Holiday Special, where the two performed Parton’s classic “I Will Always Love You.” They later appeared together at the 2019 CMA Awards.

After Parton’s passing, Underwood shared a heartfelt tribute of her own, remembering the singer not only for her extraordinary talent but also for her faith and the way she treated the people around her.

“She’s not gone. I know exactly where she is,” Underwood wrote.

She described Parton as the “epitome of faith, grace, talent, beauty and humor,” adding that she had a “humble heart for Jesus” and made everyone around her feel special.

Underwood also reflected on how uniquely beloved Parton was, writing that she was perhaps the one person on Earth whom everyone loved and could agree on.

“She was a one of one and no one will ever come close,” she wrote. “It’s alright to be sad that this world lost a legend, but heaven gained an angel. Well done, good and faithful Dolly. Welcome home.”

That message set the tone for what would become an equally emotional tribute on stage.

“She’s just one that transcends all space and all time”

During her Tanglewood performance, Underwood paused to speak directly to the audience about Parton.

She said she wanted to acknowledge and “pour my love out” for someone who had been a huge influence on so many people, while also remembering her as “one of the nicest people” she had ever met.

Underwood admitted that Parton’s death felt like a shock to the entire world.

“It’s like time just stood still,” she told the crowd, reflecting on the ripple effect of losing someone so widely loved.

She then offered a description that captured the larger meaning Parton held for her.

“But she’s just one that transcends all space and all time,” Underwood said.

She remembered Parton’s bright smile and said that was something everyone could learn from. Although Parton was gone, Underwood emphasized that she would not be forgotten.

“I know where she is,” she said, referring again to Parton’s Christian faith. “I know how much she loved Jesus.”

A song about seeing someone again

Underwood then introduced a song that carried an especially fitting message for the moment.

“But right now we’re gonna do a song that is very important to me and I feel like it fits the moment,” she told the audience. “We all have somebody in our lives that is no longer with us, but we know that we’ll see them again.”

She went on to perform “See You Again,” dedicating the song to Parton.

The song appeared in the setlist at No. 17 during Underwood’s August 29 performance at the Koussevitzky Music Shed, with the dedication to Parton specifically noted.

Underwood’s Tanglewood appearance was her first at the venue, where she performed as part of the 2026 Popular Artist Series. The concert took place on Saturday, August 29, at 7 p.m.

The tribute also included a special jacket worn by Underwood, featuring her initials on the back. During the moment, she reminded the crowd that Parton would remain with them as long as she lived on in their minds and hearts.

For a performer who had known Parton personally and professionally, the choice of “See You Again” offered a fitting way to close the distance between grief and remembrance.

Parton may no longer be able to take the stage, but the music she created, the people she influenced and the memories shared by artists such as Underwood remain.

And on a night at Tanglewood, Underwood gave her own heartfelt answer to the loss: Dolly is gone, but she is far from forgotten.