Vince Gill was overcome with emotion as he paid tribute to his late friend and collaborator Dolly Parton during an emotional concert in Kansas City.
The country music star performed “I Will Always Love You” at the Midland Theatre on August 27, just two days after Parton died at the age of 80. Gill struggled to hold back tears as he sang the song, creating an incredibly poignant moment for everyone in the room.
The performance carried an especially powerful meaning because Gill and Parton had performed the song together at the 1995 CMA Awards. Their version became one of the memorable collaborations of Parton’s career, making Gill’s decision to sing it following her death particularly emotional.
As Gill became visibly emotional during the performance, the Kansas City audience responded with support, joining in and helping him through the difficult tribute.
Before singing, Gill had spoken about how deeply the news had affected his family. He had also shared a personal tribute recalling the special moment when he and Dolly sang the song together, describing their final harmony as one of the most beautiful sounds he had ever heard.
Gill was not the only artist struggling to process the loss. Musicians across the country have been incorporating Parton’s songs into their performances, with Kacey Musgraves, Brad Paisley and John Mayer among those paying tribute in the days following her death.
For Gill, however, the moment was deeply personal. He was not simply performing one of Parton’s most famous songs — he was singing the words of a longtime friend and collaborator who had shared the stage with him decades earlier.
The emotional performance left the audience visibly moved and offered a powerful reminder of the extraordinary bond Dolly Parton created with the people around her.
As fans continue to mourn the country legend, Gill’s tearful tribute has become one of the most poignant musical farewells to Dolly so far.
