Kacey Musgraves‘ admiration for Dolly Parton is profound.

The “High Horse” singer celebrated her cherished bond with her late mentor by transforming the 2026 Video Music Awards stage on Sept. 27 into a Nashville-inspired tribute to honor her remarkable legacy.

After a nostalgic clip of Parton addressing a concert audience about the significance of listening to women, Musgraves—wearing a dazzling fuchsia dress—moved the crowd at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater to their feet with her heartfelt performance of “I Will Always Love You.”

As the Grammy winner sang, Parton’s iconic symbol of a butterfly graced the screen.

After Musgraves appeared visibly emotional while concluding the song, VMAs host Snoop Dogg took the stage to highlight the impactful moment.

“Wow, now that’s how you honor a legend,” he remarked. “There’s nothing but love in this room for Miss Dolly Parton. We love you, Dolly.”

In a final tribute to the country icon, Snoop encouraged the audience to show their appreciation, stating, “I said if you love Dolly Parton, make some noise!”