Amy Grant Fights Back Tears During Emotional Dolly Parton Tribute At Dove Awards — As Natalie Grant Joins Her For Powerful Performance Of “How Great Thou Art” And “I Will Always Love You”

Less than six weeks after the death of country music legend Dolly Parton, two of Christian music’s most celebrated voices came together to honor her extraordinary life, enduring faith and unforgettable musical legacy.

Amy Grant and Natalie Grant delivered one of the most emotional moments of the 2026 GMA Dove Awards, performing a moving tribute that brought the audience to its feet at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

The ceremony, held on Tuesday, October 6, and televised on Friday, October 9, celebrated outstanding achievements in gospel and Christian music.

But for many in attendance, the evening carried a special significance as the music community remembered Parton, who died on August 25 at the age of 80.

The tribute became even more poignant when a recording of Dolly singing the beloved hymn How Great Thou Art filled the arena, allowing her unmistakable voice to become part of the performance.

Amy Grant Struggles To Hold Back Tears While Remembering Dolly Parton

Before the musical tribute began, Amy Grant stepped forward to share personal reflections on Dolly’s life and influence.

The Grammy-winning Christian music star spoke about the faith that shaped Parton’s identity and remained a constant presence throughout her career.

According to Amy, Dolly’s beliefs were never separate from her music or the way she treated others.

Instead, her faith was woven into everything she did.

As Amy continued speaking, the emotion of the moment became increasingly apparent.

Fighting back tears, she told the audience that “it felt like Dolly belonged to all of us.”

The words captured the special place Parton held in the hearts of listeners across generations and musical genres.

Although Dolly was best known as a country music icon, her influence extended far beyond Nashville.

Her gospel recordings, charitable work and openly expressed Christian faith helped her connect with audiences who might never have considered themselves country music fans.

For Amy Grant, the tribute was an opportunity to recognize both the superstar the world admired and the woman whose warmth made so many people feel personally connected to her.

Dolly Parton’s Voice Returns To The Stage For “How Great Thou Art”

Following Amy’s introduction, the tribute moved into a particularly powerful musical moment.

A video recording of Dolly performing How Great Thou Art began playing, filling Bridgestone Arena with the late singer’s voice.

The familiar hymn has long been associated with expressions of faith, gratitude and reverence.

Hearing Dolly sing it so soon after her death added an emotional dimension to the performance.

As the recording reached its conclusion, Natalie Grant took over, singing the second verse and chorus.

Her powerful vocals carried the tribute forward before Amy Grant joined her to complete the hymn.

The arrangement brought together Dolly’s recorded performance with the live voices of two artists who had been deeply influenced by the traditions of Christian music.

It was a celebration of faith and remembrance rather than simply a performance of a familiar song.

And the audience’s reaction showed how deeply the tribute resonated.

The Entire Arena Rises During Emotional Performance

As Amy and Natalie sang, members of the audience stood to their feet.

Many raised their hands in worship as the two performers continued the hymn.

The moment reflected the spiritual significance of Dolly’s music and the lasting connection she had built with listeners.

But the tribute was not over.

Amy and Natalie then transitioned into one of Parton’s most beloved compositions, I Will Always Love You.

Originally written and recorded by Dolly in 1973 and released in 1974, the song became one of the defining works of her songwriting career.

Its message of love, gratitude and farewell carried particular weight during a memorial performance honoring its creator.

The combination of How Great Thou Art and I Will Always Love You brought together two essential sides of Parton’s musical legacy: her Christian faith and her extraordinary ability to express deeply personal emotions through song.

For those watching, it was a reminder of why Dolly’s music continues to hold such a meaningful place in American culture.

Dolly Parton Receives Posthumous Dove Award For Final Song She Co-Wrote

The emotional tribute was not the only recognition Dolly received during the ceremony.

The country legend was also honored with a posthumous GMA Dove Award for Bluegrass Recorded Song of the Year.

The winning song, Broken Angels, was written by Parton and Jamie Johnson, the lead singer of bluegrass group The Grascals.

The composition addresses the difficult subject of addiction, reflecting Dolly’s willingness to use her songwriting to explore struggles that affect individuals and families.

According to the report, Broken Angels was the final song Parton co-wrote before her death.

That detail made the award especially meaningful.

Rather than simply recognizing an earlier achievement from her extensive catalog, the honor celebrated one of the last creative contributions of her life.

During the pre-telecast ceremony, Sonya Isaacs joined The Grascals to perform the winning song in Dolly’s absence.

The performance offered another opportunity for the Christian and bluegrass music communities to celebrate her work.

Dolly Parton’s Long History With The GMA Dove Awards

The 2026 honor marked Dolly’s fourth GMA Dove Award.

Her relationship with the awards stretched across decades, reflecting her longstanding contributions to gospel, Christian and roots music.

In 2020, she joined the Christian pop duo For King & Country in winning Short Form Video of the Year for their collaboration God Only Knows.

Two years later, she received the Bluegrass/Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year award for In the Sweet By and By.

She earned another award in the same category in 2024 for Lookin’ for You, her collaboration with Zach Williams.

These honors demonstrated the breadth of her musical influence.

Although her career was rooted in country music, Dolly repeatedly crossed genre boundaries, collaborating with Christian artists and recording songs that reflected her faith.

Her ability to move naturally between country, gospel and contemporary Christian music helped introduce her work to new audiences.

Remembering Dolly’s Unforgettable 1990 Performance Of “He’s Alive”

Long before the emotional tribute in 2026, Parton had already created one of the most memorable moments in Dove Awards history.

In 1990, she appeared on the awards stage alongside the Christ Church Choir to perform He’s Alive.

The gospel song tells the story of Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.

Dolly’s powerful interpretation became a defining example of her ability to communicate faith through music.

The performance combined her distinctive voice with the choir’s sweeping harmonies, creating an unforgettable presentation of the Christian anthem.

More than three decades later, that recording remains an important part of her gospel music legacy.

Its continued popularity also explains why the 2026 tribute resonated so strongly with the Dove Awards audience.

For many listeners, Dolly was never simply a country star who occasionally recorded religious songs.

Her faith was a central part of her artistic identity.

A Final Musical Farewell To A Country Legend

Dolly Parton’s death left an enormous void in country music, but the Dove Awards demonstrated how widely her influence reached.

The evening celebrated her achievements as a songwriter, honored one of her final compositions and brought together two prominent Christian artists to remember her life.

Amy Grant’s tearful introduction captured the personal affection so many people felt for Dolly.

Natalie Grant’s performance of How Great Thou Art honored the faith that shaped her music.

And the closing rendition of I Will Always Love You offered a fitting farewell to a woman whose songs have provided comfort, inspiration and joy for generations.

The posthumous award for Broken Angels added another meaningful chapter to her remarkable legacy.

Even in the weeks following her death, Dolly’s music continued to bring people together.

As Amy Grant fought back tears and Natalie Grant lifted her voice in song, the Dove Awards audience stood in tribute to a woman whose music had touched millions — and whose faith, kindness and extraordinary voice will continue to be remembered for generations.