Reba McEntire & Sally Field bring Emmys audience to tears with emotional Dolly Parton tribute weeks after icon’s death

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REBA McEntire and Sally Field brought the Emmys audience to tears as they honored the late Dolly Parton in a deeply personal tribute just weeks after the beloved icon’s death.

Sally, 79, took the stage first to remember her former Steel Magnolias co-star, speaking warmly about the woman she knew both on and off the screen.

The actress shared memories of Dolly and reflected on the lasting impression she made during their time together on the beloved 1989 film.

Standing onstage, Sally spoke of the woman behind the worldwide fame, remembering her former co-star as someone whose warmth and humor made an “unforgettable impression.”

“If there are truly angels on earth, then we just lost one,” Sally said as she began her tribute.

She went on to recall how much she adored Dolly from the moment they met.

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It was an especially poignant tribute coming from Sally, who shared the screen with her in Steel Magnolias, where Dolly played the beloved Truvy Jones alongside Sally’s M’Lynn Eatenton.

After Sally’s touching words, Reba took the stage to honor her longtime friend through music.

The country superstar performed Dolly’s Appalachian Memories, delivering the song as a moving farewell to one of country music’s most enduring figures.

Following Dolly’s death last month, Reba shared a heartfelt tribute to her friend, thanking her for the love and music she had given the world and writing that there would “never ever be another you.”

She also recalled their final conversation and ended her message with a simple declaration: “I will always love you.”

Dolly died on August 25 at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer, prompting an outpouring of grief from across Hollywood, country music and beyond.

That sentiment carried into the Emmys, where Reba’s performance served as a tribute not only to Dolly’s extraordinary career but to the friendship they shared.

Dolly’s legacy stretched far beyond country music.

Over a career spanning more than five decades, she became an acclaimed songwriter, singer, actress, television star and philanthropist, with an influence that reached many generations of fans.

She earned five Emmy nominations and won an Emmy for her 2020 Netflix film Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square, further cementing her place in television history.