Revisiting Dolly Parton’s Memorable Final Moments in “Forever Country”
When “Forever Country” reaches its final moments, the camera passes a field filled with some of country music’s biggest stars before settling on one unmistakable figure: Dolly Parton.
Her voice carries the closing lines of “I Will Always Love You,” bringing an emotional finish to a song created to honor five decades of the Country Music Association Awards. Recorded in 2016, the ambitious collaboration brought together 30 CMA Award-winning acts from across generations and combined three songs that represent some of country music’s most enduring themes.
The project was released under the collective name Artists of Then, Now & Forever. Produced by Shane McAnally and directed by Grammy Award-winning filmmaker Joseph Kahn, “Forever Country” quickly became a landmark moment for the genre. The single debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and reached No. 21 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100.
With Parton’s death on August 25, 2026, at age 80, that final appearance has taken on added meaning. Fans are once again returning to the performance and to the role she played in a project built around country music’s past, present, and future.
How “Forever Country” Came Together
The idea for “Forever Country” began with a simple goal: celebrate the 50th anniversary of the CMA Awards by bringing a group of country artists together to perform.
McAnally, who served as producer, was involved from the beginning. The CMA board eventually approached Joseph Kahn, whose vision transformed the original concept into something much more ambitious. Rather than having the artists perform a single song, Kahn proposed combining three classic country recordings into one large-scale musical medley.
There were about 40 songs under consideration before McAnally and Kahn settled on three.
The final choices were John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again,” and Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.” Other songs considered included “Gentle On My Mind” and “The Gambler,” but the three selected songs continued to stand out.
Each brought a different piece of the country music experience. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” represented home and place. “On the Road Again” captured the life of a traveling musician. “I Will Always Love You” brought love and heartbreak into the mix.
There was another connection among the three songs’ creators. Denver, Nelson, and Parton had each won the CMA Entertainer of the Year award during their careers.
The result was a four-minute musical journey through some of the most recognizable sounds in country music.
A Lineup Spanning Generations
The CMA deliberately built the project around artists from different eras. The organization described the participants as representing all five decades of the CMA Awards.
The final lineup included Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, George Strait, Kacey Musgraves, Eric Church, Ronnie Milsap, Charley Pride, Dierks Bentley, Trisha Yearwood, Lady Antebellum, Blake Shelton, Darius Rucker, Martina McBride, Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts, Willie Nelson, Brooks & Dunn, Alabama, Brett Eldredge, Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson, Vince Gill, Carrie Underwood, and Dolly Parton, along with Randy Travis, who appeared in the video.
The CMA’s official announcement identified 30 CMA Award-winning acts in the project, with the artists representing the history and continuing evolution of country music.
Several artists who were approached could not participate because of scheduling conflicts. They included Toby Keith, Billy Currington, Zac Brown Band, Thomas Rhett, Chris Young, and Florida Georgia Line.
Randy Travis’ appearance was especially meaningful. Travis had suffered a debilitating stroke just three years earlier and was unable to sing, but he still appeared in the music video. His presence added another emotional connection to a project centered on the generations that helped shape country music. The CMA also highlighted his appearance when the video was unveiled in 2016.
The recording and filming took place before the week of the CMT Awards and CMA Fest, when many of the participating artists were already in Nashville for the multi-day celebration.
Dolly Parton’s Unforgettable Vocal
For all the star power packed into “Forever Country,” Dolly Parton’s contribution stands apart.
Her portion of the song was built around “I Will Always Love You,” the song she wrote and originally recorded. When Parton entered the studio to record her part for the new medley, the vocal that ultimately made the final recording was her first take.
McAnally later recalled the experience with amazement. Speaking to The Charlotte Observer in 2016, he explained that he had never met Parton before the session and initially had to gather the nerve to tell her he would try to direct her performance of a song so closely associated with her.
The pressure was not limited to McAnally.
Kahn, a Texas native who had worked with many major artists, admitted that Parton made him nervous. His reaction reflected the stature she already held within the music industry.
Her recording required little intervention. When Parton returned to the song, the vocal was essentially left as she delivered it. McAnally later described the recording as her first vocal take, without tuning, and emphasized how extraordinary the moment was.
That simplicity is part of what makes the ending so effective.
Throughout “Forever Country,” several of the female artists take turns singing portions of “I Will Always Love You.” As the arrangement builds, however, the song ultimately belongs to Parton for its closing moments.
The Final Scene
The music video ends with the participating artists gathered together in a field.
The camera moves past the performers before arriving at Parton, who stands at the center of the final moment and delivers the closing lines of “I Will Always Love You.”
It is a fitting conclusion to a project that was designed as a tribute to country music history.
“Forever Country” brought together artists from different generations, connected three defining songs, and placed the voices of country music’s past alongside its contemporary stars. Parton’s position at the very end gave the celebration a particularly meaningful sense of continuity.
Her influence on country music, especially on generations of female artists, was immense. Parton spent decades breaking barriers as a singer, songwriter, performer, and industry figure while becoming one of the genre’s most recognizable voices.
That makes her final moments in “Forever Country” especially poignant now.
Recorded a decade ago as a celebration of country music’s history, the performance has become another reminder of the lasting place Dolly Parton holds within that history. As fans revisit the video following her passing, the final image remains the same: a field full of country music stars, a camera moving through the crowd, and Dolly Parton bringing the song to its close.