# Dolly Parton honored with lifetime achievement award

> The Americana Music Association recognizes the late country icon with its highest honor, releasing a pre-recorded video message from before her death.
- Title: Dolly Parton honored with lifetime achievement award
- Summary: The Americana Music Association recognizes the late country icon with its highest honor, releasing a pre-recorded video message from before her death. Dolly…
- Keywords: dolly parton, americana music association, lifetime achievement award, country music, posthumous honor, bluegrass albums, tennessee, music legacy, news, local, Dolly, Parton
- Source: ABC7 New York — https://abc7ny.com/story/dolly-parton-tribute-americana-music-association-gives-singer-lifetime-achievement-award-death/19844488
- Published: 2026-09-17T20:52:20+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: dolly parton, americana music association, lifetime achievement award, country music, posthumous honor, bluegrass albums, tennessee, music legacy, news, local
## Dolly honored after her death
The Americana Music Association released a pre-recorded video from Dolly Parton accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Americana Honors and Awards ceremony.
## Video recorded before her passing
Parton died in August at age 80 following a private battle with cancer. The video message was submitted as part of her award acceptance.
## Her bluegrass renaissance
In the video, Parton reflected on returning to East Tennessee in 1997 to record 'Hungry Again,' which sparked a series of bluegrass and acoustic albums that transformed her career.

> It's that same music that drew me back to East Tennessee back in 1997 to write and record my album, 'Hungry Again.'
## Roots music shaped her path
Parton described Americana music as what she grew up playing in the Smoky Mountains, and how it drew her back to her roots decades later.

> Roots music, or what is now called Americana music, is what I grew up playing back in the Smoky Mountains.
## New fans embraced the albums
Parton noted that new fans discovered her bluegrass albums and Americana music communities embraced them, creating what she called a musical renaissance.

> Now, new fans discovered these albums, new Americana music communities embraced them.
## Legendary company in the award
Parton joins Emmylou Harris, Van Morrison, and Willie Nelson among artists honored with the Americana Music Association's lifetime achievement award.
## Key takeaway

Dolly Parton received the Americana Music Association's Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously, with a video message she recorded before her August death reflecting on her career renaissance.