Dolly Parton on the Honor of Receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at the CMAs
Just one of the many highlights of the 2016 CMA Awards on Wednesday (Nov. 2) was that of the all-star tribute to country music legend Dolly Parton featuring the likes of Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Kacey Musgraves, Martina McBride, Jennifer Nettles and a capella group Pentatonix performing her countless hits from “Jolene” to “I Will Always Love You.”
In addition to honoring the legend via song, Parton was also on hand to accept the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award after the tribute. Backstage at the star-studded show, Parton shared what the award means to her and how it feels to know she’s had such an impact on country music artists and the genre at large.
“It is an honor, and it makes me feel good to feel like I’ve done something to further this business,” the icon says (quote via the Boot). “The fact that all these young women and all these young stars say that I’ve inspired them makes me feel real good.”
“I hope they don’t think because they gave me a Lifetime Achievement Award, I’ll be done,” Parton continues. “It does [inspire me] because it makes me feel like I’m still a part of things, because it makes me feel proud … to actually keep contributing to this life in general and to this business.”
The Lifetime Achievement Award honors a nationally and internationally-known artist who embodies the definition of country music from concert performances to philanthropic efforts, operating at the highest level in all facets of the industry. It has been awarded only three other times to fellow country greats Nelson, Kenny Rogers and Johnny Cash.
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