Dolly Parton Shares Special Message for Fans After Missing ACM Honors
Dolly Parton may not have been able to attend this year’s ACM Honors, but the country music icon still found a way to share her gratitude with fans after receiving one of the evening’s most prestigious honors.
The Academy of Country Music held the 2026 ACM Honors on Wednesday, August 19, at The Pinnacle in Nashville. The event was not televised, but it brought together many of country music’s biggest names.
Carly Pearce hosted the ceremony for the sixth consecutive year, with Parker McCollum joining her as co-host for the first time.
Unlike the ACM Awards, which focus largely on accomplishments from the previous year, ACM Honors recognizes artists and music-industry figures for their broader contributions and lasting influence on country music. The ceremony includes honors such as the Poet’s Award, International Award, Spirit Award, ACM Lifting Lives Award, and several others.
Dolly Parton Receives the ACM Poet’s Award
Dolly was announced as this year’s recipient of the ACM Poet’s Award on July 28. The honor recognizes her extraordinary career as a songwriter and her decades of influence on country music.
However, health complications prevented Parton from attending the ceremony in person.
Her absence followed the cancellation of another scheduled appearance at Dollywood. Dolly had been expected to appear on Friday, August 14, for the dedication of the theme park’s new NightFlight Expedition ride and a parade. A Dollywood spokesperson announced Thursday afternoon that she would no longer attend the festivities.
The cancellation was the latest in a series of missed appearances for the singer, who has dealt with health struggles in recent months.
Dolly also canceled a series of Las Vegas shows following the death of her husband, Carl Dean, in March 2025, citing health concerns at the time.
Even though she could not be at ACM Honors, Parton made sure to acknowledge the recognition and connect with her fans through a special video message.
The Academy praised Dolly for her “extraordinary, decades-long impact as one of Country Music’s most gifted and influential songwriters.”
The honor also reflects her long relationship with the Academy. Parton is a 13-time ACM Award recipient and has hosted the ACM Awards three times, further establishing her place among country music’s most enduring figures.
Dolly Opens Up About Why Songwriting Matters Most
In her message, Dolly made it clear that songwriting remains at the heart of her creative life.
“At my core, songwriting has always been the most important part of who I am creatively,” she said.
Parton went on to explain that songwriting has played many roles throughout her life. It has given her a way to process her emotions, find happiness and express herself.
“Songwriting has been my therapy, songwriting has been my release, my joy, songwriting has been a gift from God,” Dolly continued. “It has allowed me to touch people with words and music. So thank you God, and thank you fans around the world.”
Her message offered a personal perspective on the significance of the ACM Poet’s Award. While Dolly has built a remarkable career across music, entertainment and business, she emphasized that writing songs remains especially meaningful to her.
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Dolly Continues Working Despite Travel Restrictions
Although she was unable to attend ACM Honors in Nashville, Parton confirmed that she continues to work on projects connected to both Nashville and New York despite the travel restrictions.
For now, her special message allowed her to mark the ACM Poet’s Award from afar while thanking the fans who have supported her throughout her decades-long career.
