Reba McEntire paid emotional tribute to Dolly Parton at the 78th Emmy Awards, held Monday, September 14, singing Parton's 1983 song "Appalachian Memories" in her honor.
At the end of the performance, McEntire called out that she loved Dolly, so much, according to People magazine.
The tribute came weeks after Parton, a close friend of McEntire's, died on August 25 at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer.
Sally Field recalls Steel Magnolias
Before McEntire took the stage, Emmy-winning actress Sally Field spoke as part of a segment organizers built into the ceremony to honor Parton, recalling their work together on the film Steel Magnolias.
Field said that if there were real angels on earth, the world had just lost one in Dolly Parton. She said it had been a great stroke of luck to work with Parton on Steel Magnolias, and that although they lived far apart, she had adored Parton from the very first day and never stopped loving her in all the years since. Field described Parton as authentic and humble, supportive and incredibly funny, with a bold sense of humor that would send any rude man looking for somewhere to hide. She said that at the time, she could not have grasped what a true giant Parton was, not only as an artist but as a person.
Field went on to call Parton a humanitarian whose work had a deep impact on the lives of people in her home state of Tennessee and across the country. She closed by asking God to bless her friend, adding that she was not the only person on earth who would love Parton forever.
Background
Parton was one of country music's most successful singers and songwriters, known for hits including "Jolene," "9 to 5" and "I Will Always Love You," alongside decades of philanthropic work in her native Tennessee. McEntire, a longtime friend and fellow country star, has also built a long career as an actress. Field, a two-time Academy Award winner, starred alongside Parton in the 1989 film Steel Magnolias. The Emmy Awards recognize achievement in American television and are presented annually by the Television Academy.
