Tune in to Dolly Parton tributes on TV — timing, channels, and ways to watch
Dolly Parton tributes are hitting CBS, CMT, and Paramount+—here’s how to watch without missing a beat.
The first network tribute out of the gate is a one-hour CBS news special, Dolly Parton – An American Icon, pulling together fresh reporting on her life in music, television, film and books. The show digs into the CBS News vault, including a 2009 60 Minutes sit-down with Morley Safer and a 2023 Person-To-Person conversation with Norah O’Donnell, and folds in new reflections from country artists and people who knew Parton best.
The special airs in primetime and will also be available to stream, so viewers can choose broadcast or on-demand. Beyond CBS, CMT is turning its channels over to Parton’s music videos, and the network says a fuller memorial program is coming soon, along with a movie night built around one of her fan-favorite films.
CBS airs Dolly Parton – An American Icon on August 25 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
Where to watch
- CBS — Dolly Parton – An American Icon: August 25, 10–11 p.m. ET/PT; also streaming live and on-demand on Paramount+ .
- CMT, CMT Music and Equal Play on Pluto TV — blocks of Parton’s music videos from August 25 through the following morning. Equal Play on Pluto TV is free to watch.
- CMT Remembers — a dedicated memorial special is in the works; airdate to be announced.
- Steel Magnolias — CMT will air the film later this week; scheduling to follow.
News of Parton’s death at age 80 in Nashville was shared on her official Instagram by her nephew, Bryan Seaver. In the wake of the announcement — after recent canceled appearances had already worried fans — networks quickly set tribute programming and made the CBS special available via Paramount+ for streaming alongside CMT’s linear and free, ad-supported options on Pluto TV.
CMT says its standalone memorial edition of CMT Remembers is coming, with date and time to be announced.