Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus perform at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, 2019. Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
It certainly was a big weekend for Dolly Parton! On Friday night she was named MusiCares ‘Person of the Year’, ahead of Sunday night’s Grammy Awards where she was joined by more than a dozen top-recording artists to perform a medley of her hits in celebration of the honour. She's the first country artist to be saluted in the tribute's 29-year history.
Katy Perry and Kacey Musgraves kicked off Sunday night’s performance at the Grammy Awards with one of Parton’s biggest hits, "Here You Come Again" before Parton herself joined them on stage in a sequined, white dress to the roaring applause of the crowd.
The country music legend then sang her hit song, “Jolene” with her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus. The performance was so infectious even Korean K-Pop band, BTS, couldn’t hold back from singing along!
Check it out below.
Dolly Parton won her first Grammy in 1978. Two of her songs, "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You," have both been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. She also received the Recording Academy's ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ in 2011.
At Friday night’s MusiCares event, all hair, sequins, nails and stilettos, the 73-year-old didn’t certainly shy away from her trademark humour, delivering an acceptance speech that had the crowd in stitches.
“All of my life I have been known for two things. Well, not them,” the singer joked. “I’ve also been known as a singer and songwriter too. Although I’m not complaining. Ol’ Pancho and Lefty’s been pretty good to me. Everybody always expects me to do a boob joke and I like to do that right up front.”
Surprising Parton with her award and earning a standing ovation were Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, who teamed with Parton for two Trio albums. It was a rare public appearance for Ronstadt, who is battling Parkinson’s disease.
The love and admiration for the star was sealed with moving tributes from a long list of performers, including, Brandi Carlile, Pink, Katy Perry, Kacey Musgraves, Norah Jones and Miley Cyrus, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood
“It’s been such a thrill for me tonight to see all these great artists singing songs I’ve written or been a part of,” Parton said. “Watching them is sort of like watching porn. You’re not personally involved but you still get off on it.”
Over the crowd’s raucous laughter Parton said, “Hey, don’t blame me. At my age you’ll take anything you can get.”
MusiCares, run by the Recording Academy, provides financial assistance to individuals in the music industry during times of financial, medical and personal need.
“Of course, you know we hillbillies need MusiCares too,” Parton said. “We may not have sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll, but two out of three ain’t bad.”
Keep the toe-tapping good times going with Dolly's Trio album, recorded in 1987 with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt.
