Reba McEntire Honors Dolly Parton With Emotional Performance of He’s Alive at CMA Tribute Special

Reba McEntire paid a deeply personal tribute to her longtime friend Dolly Parton during a special television celebration honoring the late country music legend.

The country superstar performed He’s Alive, a powerful gospel song featured on Parton’s 1989 album White Limozeen, during CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton.

The performance carried special meaning for McEntire, who shared decades of friendship and musical history with Parton.

Rather than simply celebrating the achievements of one of country music’s most influential entertainers, McEntire used the occasion to remember someone she had known and admired throughout much of her career.

Reba McEntire Performs Dolly Parton’s Gospel Classic He’s Alive

The CMA tribute brought together nearly two dozen performers to celebrate Parton’s extraordinary musical legacy following her passing on August 25 at the age of 80.

Among the participating artists were Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Lainey Wilson, Vince Gill and Zac Brown.

While the evening featured selections from Parton’s extensive catalog, McEntire chose a song closely connected to the singer’s Christian faith.

He’s Alive was originally written and recorded by Christian musician Don Francisco before Parton included her interpretation on White Limozeen.

The song recounts the resurrection of Jesus Christ, making it a particularly meaningful selection for an artist who openly expressed her religious beliefs throughout her career.

McEntire’s performance highlighted a side of Parton’s legacy that extended beyond her commercial success and celebrated recordings.

Reba McEntire Reveals What She Admired Most About Dolly Parton

Ahead of the tribute, McEntire reflected on her friendship with Parton during an interview with Extra.

Although the two singers shared countless professional experiences, McEntire said it was Parton’s character that left the strongest impression.

She particularly admired the way Parton treated people with kindness and respect, regardless of their position or professional status.

According to McEntire, Parton approached everyone as an equal, whether they were prominent entertainers or members of a production crew.

She also praised her friend’s honesty and authenticity, explaining that the personality audiences saw in public was consistent with the person she knew privately.

McEntire described Parton as someone who never felt the need to pretend to be somebody else.

Dolly Parton’s Faith Left a Lasting Impression on Reba

McEntire also spoke about Parton’s willingness to discuss her Christian beliefs openly.

She admired how naturally the singer incorporated faith into her music, conversations and public life.

Parton never appeared embarrassed about expressing those convictions, McEntire explained, and remained eager to share what mattered most to her.

That admiration made He’s Alive an especially fitting song for McEntire’s performance during the televised celebration.

The gospel recording represented both Parton’s musical versatility and the spiritual values that shaped her personal life.

Two Country Music Legends Shared Decades of Friendship

McEntire and Parton built their careers during overlapping eras of country music, becoming two of the genre’s most recognizable female performers.

Over the years, their relationship developed beyond professional admiration into a lasting friendship.

They also shared the stage, creating memories that McEntire continued to cherish.

While discussing Parton, McEntire was also preparing for a Halloween episode of her television sitcom Happy’s Place, but the opportunity to remember her longtime friend remained particularly meaningful.

Her performance at the CMA celebration offered a musical expression of that friendship.

By choosing He’s Alive, McEntire honored not only Parton’s extraordinary career but also the honesty, generosity and faith she believed defined the woman behind the music.