On Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, night, Belmont University’s Fisher Center in Nashville, Tennessee, was the place to be as celebrities gathered together to celebrate the life and legacy of Dolly Parton.
Reba McEntire, one of Parton’s longtime friends, was also on hand for the event dubbed CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton. She delivered a rousing rendition of Don Francisco’s ‘70s spiritually-driven classic, “He’s Alive.”
Welcomed to the stage by Amy Grant, McEntire, 71, stunned audience members in her elegant ensemble, which featured a white cape embellished in gold rhinestones and western-style fringe sleeves. McEntire wore her fiery red hair in a high and fancy updo while accessorizing her look with subtle jewelry.
The Oklahoma-bred country legend showcased her signature vocals and haunting tone while backed by a band. She drew the audience in with the story of Jesus’ resurrection before inviting a student ensemble, which is part of the Dolly U program to join her on the remainder of the song.
McEntire’s onstage rendition and outfit paid homage to Parton’s performance of the song at the 1989 CMA Awards, which can be viewed in the YouTube clip below.
“He’s Alive,” while not a song written by Parton, has become a beloved cover of hers, even landing on Billboard’s 2026 list of Parton’s “Best Songs.” The song, which won Francisco two Dove awards in 1980 for Song of the Year and Songwriter of the Year, appears on Parton’s 1989 White Limozeen album, produced by Ricky Skaggs.
CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton was a two-hour special that aired live on ABC and Disney+ and became available to stream the following day on Hulu. The event, along with McEntire, featured a host of stars, including Kelsea Ballerini, Kristin Chenoweth, Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Ashley McBryde, Little Big Town, Lady A, Lainey Wilson, Darius Rucker, Zac Brown, Grant, Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Béla Fleck, Lukas Nelson, Molly Tuttle, Skaggs, and more.
Related: 1977 Country Classic, Named One of Dolly Parton’s ‘Best Songs of All Time,’ Reimagined by Kelsea Ballerini