Carrie Underwood turned her Tanglewood performance into a deeply emotional tribute to Dolly Parton on August 29, 2026, honoring the country music legend with a heartfelt performance of See You Again.
Before beginning the song, Underwood took a moment to speak about Parton and the impact she had on so many people. She described Dolly as a huge influence and “one of the nicest people” she had ever met, while admitting that her death felt like a shock to the entire world.
“It’s like time just stood still,” Underwood told the crowd, reflecting on the loss. She also praised Parton for being someone who “transcends all space and all time,” remembering the bright smile she carried until the very end.
Underwood then reminded the audience that although Dolly was gone, she would never be forgotten. She shared her belief that Parton is now in heaven and spoke about Dolly’s deep faith in Jesus before introducing the song.
“But right now we’re gonna do a song that is very important to me and I feel like it fits the moment,” Underwood said. “We all have somebody in our lives that is no longer with us, but we know that we’ll see them again.”
She then asked the audience to light up the venue with their phone flashlights as a gesture of love and remembrance for Dolly. With thousands of lights glowing across Tanglewood, Underwood began See You Again, delivering the 2013 hit with a sincere and powerful vocal performance.
The moment became even more emotional as the song reached its final moments. A large black-and-white image of Dolly appeared on the screen behind the stage, creating a stunning tribute that left the crowd visibly moved.
Underwood and Parton shared a special history over the years, including a duet of I Will Always Love You during Underwood’s 2009 holiday special and a joint performance at the 2019 CMA Awards. Following Parton’s passing on August 25 at age 80, Underwood also shared a heartfelt message remembering her as the “epitome of faith, grace, talent, beauty and humor.”
At Tanglewood, she honored that legacy once again, turning See You Again into a touching farewell to a woman whose music, kindness and faith touched generations.