Dolly Parton Takes ACM Poet's Award Virtually Again
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- Dolly Parton accepted the Academy of Country Music's Poet's Award virtually on Aug. 19 in Nashville, never having been scheduled to attend the ACM Honors in person.
- The ACM Honors also celebrated Eric Church, Ella Langley, Kacey Musgraves, the Carter Family, Taylor Sheridan's Landman series, executive Leslie Fram, and late songwriter Brett James.
- Carter Faith, Carly Pearce, and Kaitlin Butts performed a cover of Parton's "9 to 5" during the ceremony, with Parton calling songwriting "my therapy; my release, my joy" in her prerecorded remarks.
- Parton also appeared virtually at the opening of NightFlight Expedition, a new roller coaster at her Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, wearing sparkly wings and citing doctor's orders over dehydration and dizziness.
- Parton has attributed recent absences to kidney stones, though she did appear in person at the opening of Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop in Cornersville, Tennessee, back in June.
- Parton will accept a Lifetime Achievement award at the 2026 Americana Honors & Awards in Nashville in September — also virtually.
Why it matters: Two of country music's major awards bodies — ACM and Americana — are now staging virtual acceptance for Parton, a material shift driven by her ongoing kidney stone and dehydration issues that have sidelined her from in-person appearances.
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