Dolly Parton will be honored during Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Dolly Parton will be honored during Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Devarrick Turner, Knoxville News SentinelSat, November 14, 2026 at 10:05 AM UTC
0
Amid all the vibrant floats, giant balloons and surprise celebrity guests, Dolly Parton will be honored during the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Broadway star Megan Hilty will lead a tribute to the legendary entertainer and humanitarian – who died in August – during the live broadcast on Nov. 26.
Hilty honors Parton after starring in Parton’s musical stage adaption of “9 to 5” in 2009. Hilty portrayed “Doralee,” the character Parton played in the 1980 film version.
“She made more of an impact on me than I can express in an Instagram post and this deep and profound loss will take quite some time to process,” Hilty wrote on Instagram the day Parton died. “I am so grateful to have been in her orbit and we are all so lucky this actual angel walked among us.”
Dolly Parton honored on stage
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade tribute to Parton comes just before Parton’s “DOLLY: A True Original Musical” begins Broadway previews on Dec. 7. Parton had been working on adjustments to the show when she died.
The musical inspired by her life opens Jan. 19 – what would have been Parton’s 81st birthday – at the St. James Theatre in New York City.
Here in Knoxville, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville’s theater program will present “9 to 5” at Clarence Brown Theatre April 14-May 2. The theater company specifically changed its 2026-27 season lineup to honor Parton, replacing the previously announced show “She Loves Me” with “9 to 5.”
Advertisement
When can you watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Dolly Parton tribute?
The 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off live at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 26 on NBC and Peacock. Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker of “Today” will host. An encore presentation of the parade will air on NBC at 2 p.m.
Other float performances include Baha Men, Natasha Bedingfield, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots, JoJo, Wyclef Jean, Queen Latifah, Leslie Odom Jr., Keke Palmer and Anthony Ramos.
Dolly Parton’s previous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade appearances
Parton made her Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade debut in 1975, according to Macy’s Parade Wiki. She performed “Love is Like a Butterfly” on the iconic Tom Turkey float. She appeared again in 2007 and sang "Better Get to Livin'."
Her final appearance was in 2020, when a pre-recorded performance of “A Holly Jolly Christmas” aired. Parton was scheduled to sing on Cracker Barrel's Home Sweet Home float, but COVID-19 safety guidelines prevented the live performance.
Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com.
Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Dolly Parton will be honored during Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
