Dolly Parton Tribute Special: Streaming Options and Star-Studded Lineup
The two-hour CMA special celebrating Dolly Parton is scheduled for ABC, with more than 16 celebrity appearances including Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, and Lainey Wilson. Ticket proceeds from the live show at Belmont University’s Fisher Center support Parton’s Imagination Library. Viewers can watch through free trials or live-TV streaming services, and the program will be available on demand via Hulu.
The CMA’s two-hour Dolly Parton celebration airs Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 9 to 11 p.m. ET on ABC. More than 16 celebrities are set to appear, including Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Lainey Wilson, Zac Brown, and Kristen Bell. The Nashville live event takes place at Belmont University’s Fisher Center, and ticket revenue goes to Parton’s Imagination Library.
Viewers can use five-day trials from DirecTV or Fubo, subscribe to Sling or Hulu + Live TV, or wait for next-day on-demand access through Hulu. Parton died Aug. 25 at 80.
The special may give Parton’s fans a shared moment of remembrance and celebration, while its mix of trials and subscriptions could attract viewers who no longer rely on traditional pay-TV. Because ticket proceeds support the Imagination Library, the event could also draw attention to children’s book access. Next-day Hulu availability may widen the audience beyond the live ABC broadcast, though the scale of that effect likely depends on how many people sign up or tune in.