Reba McEntire Wore Two Very Special Things From Dolly for Her Emotional Emmy Tribute

When Reba McEntire stepped onto the Emmy stage to honor Dolly Parton, every detail seemed carefully chosen — from the sparkling white gown to the song she sang. But two tiny pieces of the tribute carried an especially personal connection to Dolly.

Before the performance, Reba’s team reached out to Dolly’s family with a very special request: Could they borrow something that belonged to Dolly?

Dolly’s niece, Rebecca, said yes.

Reba then personally chose a pair of Dolly’s rhinestone earrings and a butterfly ring to wear during the tribute. And as Reba later explained to Vogue, having those pieces with her made it feel like she had brought “a little piece of Dolly” onto the stage.

There couldn’t have been a more fitting choice.

Rhinestones and butterflies are instantly associated with Dolly’s unmistakable style, and Reba wanted the tribute to feel like Dolly — full of sparkle, warmth and personality.

The Dress Wasn’t Dolly’s — But It Was Inspired by Her

The stunning white gown Reba wore was not one of Dolly’s dresses.

Instead, designer Michael Schmidt created the long-sleeved, white sequined gown specifically for Reba, with its design echoing the look Dolly wore when she performed the same song in 1983.

And there was one thing Reba knew she definitely did not want to wear.

Black.

Reba wanted something brighter.

She wanted sparkle — the kind of sparkle Dolly herself would have embraced.

So instead of treating the performance like a traditional farewell, Reba stepped onto the stage dressed in shimmering white, wearing Dolly’s rhinestones and butterfly ring, surrounded by clouds as images celebrating Dolly’s life appeared behind her.

Every detail told a story.

The gown paid tribute to Dolly’s past. The jewelry literally brought a piece of Dolly onto the stage. And the butterflies served as a beautiful reminder of the woman Reba was there to honor.

 

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“Nothing Says Dolly More”

For Reba, this wasn’t simply about recreating an old look.

It was about making Dolly feel present.

The borrowed earrings and butterfly ring gave Reba something deeply personal to carry with her while she sang. And the decision to wear sparkle instead of black reflected exactly how she wanted to remember her longtime friend.

Dolly spent her career turning rhinestones, butterflies and unforgettable style into part of her signature image.

So when Reba walked onto that stage wearing Dolly’s own jewelry, surrounded by memories and dressed in shimmering white, the tribute became more than a performance.

It became a deeply personal goodbye.

And for a few emotional minutes, Reba made sure a little piece of Dolly was right there beside her.