Chris Stapleton turned a concert at Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York, into an emotional tribute to Dolly Parton on August 26, 2026. During his All-American Road Show performance, the country star began singing Parton’s 1974 classic “I Will Always Love You,” drawing immediate cheers from the audience.
As Stapleton moved into the chorus, fans throughout the venue joined him. What began as a solo performance quickly became a massive singalong, with thousands of voices carrying one of the most recognizable songs in country music.
The tribute came one day after Parton’s death at age 80 was announced. Her family said she died on August 25 in Nashville. The news triggered tributes from musicians, entertainers, public figures and fans around the world, reflecting the extraordinary reach of a career that lasted nearly six decades.
A song with a special place in Dolly Parton’s legacy
“I Will Always Love You” was written and recorded by Parton and released in 1974. Decades later, the song became known to another generation through Whitney Houston’s recording, but it remained closely connected to Parton’s songwriting legacy. Stapleton’s stripped-back, soulful interpretation gave the song a different character while keeping its emotional core at the center of the performance.
Video from the concert showed Stapleton performing beneath the stage lights as an image of Parton appeared on the venue’s large screens.
The audience responded with applause before joining him on the familiar chorus.
Tributes continue around the world.
Stapleton was far from the only artist to honor Parton. Musicians across genres have remembered her through performances, messages and personal stories. Harry Styles led a Madison Square Garden audience in the same song, while other artists and public figures shared memories of Parton’s music, generosity and influence.
Parton’s legacy extended far beyond the stage. Alongside songs such as “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “Coat of Many Colors,” she became widely known for philanthropy, particularly her Imagination Library literacy program, which has distributed books to children around the world.
One crowd, one song, one unforgettable goodbye.
For the fans at Jones Beach, however, the tribute was about a single song and a shared moment. Stapleton did not need an elaborate production to explain what Parton meant to country music. The audience’s reaction did that for him.
As thousands of people sang “I Will Always Love You” together, a song written more than half a century earlier became a public farewell to the woman who created it. It was a simple tribute, but one that captured why Dolly Parton’s music continues to connect generations.