CBS to Broadcast Dolly Parton Tribute Special Tonight
CBS will air a one-hour special titled 'Dolly Parton – An American Icon' at 10 p.m. ET/PT, featuring Gayle King and Tony Dokoupil. The program will include archival clips, including Parton's 2023 interview with Norah O'Donnell, and tributes from fellow musicians. It will also stream on Paramount+ and other services.
The one-hour CBS News special assembles a roster of network journalists, including Gayle King and CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil, to commemorate Parton's six-decade career. A correspondent will report live from Dollywood, Parton's theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, adding an on-the-ground element to the studio tributes. The program draws heavily on CBS's archival footage, notably featuring Parton's 2023 Person to Person interview with Norah O'Donnell, alongside new commentary from fellow country musicians reflecting on her influence.
For viewers without cable, the special is accessible through multiple streaming avenues. DirecTV and Fubo both offer five-day free trials that include live CBS feeds, while Paramount+ serves as the official streaming home, offering live viewing and next-day on-demand access for subscribers. The broadcast airs simultaneously across all CBS affiliates at 10 p.m. ET/PT, ensuring national reach for the tribute.
This tribute special could serve as a collective cultural moment for audiences mourning Parton's passing, offering a structured space for public remembrance through familiar network journalism. For longtime fans, the archival clips may provide emotional resonance and historical perspective on her career. The multi-platform availability could extend that experience to younger or cord-cutting viewers who might otherwise miss the broadcast, potentially reinforcing Parton's cross-generational legacy and sparking renewed interest in her music and philanthropic work.