Taylor Swift Will Not Join Dolly Parton Tribute at CMA Awards, Source Says
Taylor Swift will not perform in the Dolly Parton tribute at the CMA Awards on November 18 in Nashville, a CMA source confirmed. Parton died at 80 in August. Lainey Wilson hosts the 60th ceremony at Bridgestone Arena.
Taylor Swift will not take part in the Dolly Parton tribute at the CMA Awards 2026 in Nashville on November 18, a CMA source confirmed. The Country Music Association's annual ceremony will honor Parton, who died in August at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer.
Speculation had grown that Swift might appear. The CMA source said she would not be on stage for the segment.
Who is performing
The association has not announced which artists will perform the tribute. Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert, Cody Johnson, Ella Langley, Luke Combs and Megan Moroney are among the acts due to perform at Bridgestone Arena.
Swift's tributes to Parton
Swift has already honored Parton publicly. After Parton's death, she said in a statement: "A world without Dolly doesn't feel possible, real, or right."
She called Parton "truly the gift that kept on giving." Swift also thanked her for "the millions of books she provided children all over the world."
In September, Swift dedicated her Video of the Year win at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards to Parton. "I want to thank and dedicate this award to one person, without whom this wouldn't be happening, and that person is the ultimate showgirl, Dolly Parton," she said while accepting the trophy.
She praised Parton's songwriting too. "Her storytelling was so vivid and so rich," Swift said.
Wilson hosts for a third year
Lainey Wilson will host the 60th annual CMA Awards. It is her third consecutive year as host and her second leading the show solo.
Wilson is also a nominee. She is up for entertainer of the year, female vocalist of the year and single of the year for "Somewhere Over Laredo."
Wilson moved to Nashville in 2011 and lived in a 20-foot camper trailer while writing songs. Luke Combs, who is among the performers this year, once wrote a song with her there. The two wrote "Sheriff You Want To," and Wilson sang backing vocals on the recording.
The ceremony takes place on November 18 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
