The 2026 MTV VMAs will include a rare country performance led by a major genre star in the wake of Dolly Parton’s death.

Grammy-winning country staple Kacey Musgraves will take the stage at Sunday’s ceremony to front a tribute performance honoring the late Parton, who died in August at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer.

Details about the performance itself are slim, with a release indicating only that Musgraves will be “paying tribute to the iconic Dolly Parton” at the VMAs, which traditionally highlights pop- and rap-oriented performances during its main show.

Shortly after Parton’s death, Musgraves (who has long cited Parton as a musical influence) honored Parton as the “ultimate songwriter” in a post about the late icon’s impact.

“So glad she’s with her Carl Dean,” Musgraves posted on X, referencing Parton’s longtime husband’s death last year. “No one talk to me today.”

Musgraves additionally remembered Parton with a cover of the latter’s 1977 hit “Here You Come Again” at a subsequent concert in Boston.

Musgraves, a three-time VMA nominee (nominated for the 2026 Best Country award for Middle of Nowhere lead single “Dry Spell”), previously appeared alongside Parton on stage at the 2019 Grammys.

At the ceremony, Musgraves, Katy Perry, and Parton performed a prior rendition of “Here You Come Again” as part of a tribute performance that also included other acts like Parton’s goddaughter Miley Cyrus, Maren Morris, and Little Big Town.

Musgraves’ upcoming performance marks her first at the VMAs in five years, as she last appeared on stage to sing her 2021 song “Star-Crossed,” from her album of the same name.

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In addition to Musgraves, Madonna will also perform at the 2026 VMAs, with the queen of pop and Confessions II artist set to open the ceremony with her first VMAs performance since her headline-making 2003 show opener in which she kissed Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.