DOLLY PARTON WON A POSTHUMOUS DOVE AWARD AND JAMIE JOHNSON BROKE DOWN IN TEARS AS HE SHARED HER FINAL MESSAGE

The 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards delivered an incredibly emotional moment as the music world honored Dolly Parton’s lasting impact on Christian and Gospel music. But one of the night’s most heartbreaking moments came when Jamie Johnson of The Grascals stepped onto the stage to accept an award alongside the late country legend.

Dolly Parton and The Grascals won Bluegrass Recorded Song of the Year for “Broken Angels,” a song Dolly co-wrote with Johnson. As he accepted the honor, Johnson struggled to hold back tears while remembering the woman who had played such an important role in the band’s journey.

And then he shared something that made the moment even more personal: a voicemail Dolly had left him while they were working on the song.

A Song With A Deeply Personal Meaning

“Broken Angels” was inspired by the difficult realities of addiction and recovery. Johnson has spoken openly about his own battle with addiction, while Dolly had also experienced the devastating effects of the disease within her family, having lost a brother to it.

Johnson reached out to Dolly by email to ask whether she would consider co-writing the song with him. The next day, she called and left him a voicemail.

As he recalled the experience at the Dove Awards, Johnson became emotional.

“Dolly, oh my gosh. I can’t believe we’re even talking about her in the past tense,” he said through tears.

He then reflected on the band’s long history with Dolly, who chose The Grascals to open for her and serve as her backing band in 2004.

“She was our first boss,” Johnson remembered. “She took us in 2004, then she fired us in 2005. But she said, ‘If you’re gonna be the Grascals, go be the Grascals.’”

It was a lighthearted memory in an otherwise emotional speech, reflecting the encouragement Dolly had given the group as they began building their own career.

Dolly’s Voicemail Left The Audience With Her Own Words

Johnson explained that Dolly eventually found her way back into the group’s story through “Broken Angels,” a song that carried special meaning for both of them.

He then played part of the voicemail she had left after hearing his idea.

“Well hello, Jamie Johnson. Who says I don’t make calls? It’s Dolly,” she said in her unmistakable voice.

“I was wondering what your deadline is. I really like that song, ‘Broken Angels,’ and I think I’m gonna be able to do some good with it…”

Johnson stopped the recording there. Fighting back tears, he looked up and offered a simple response:

“And you did, Dolly. And we did too.”

Those words captured the heart of the moment. Dolly had not simply lent her name to a song. She had helped bring attention to a subject that had touched both their lives, using music to offer hope to people facing difficult battles.

Johnson also dedicated the award to Dolly’s brother, who died from addiction-related struggles.

A Moving Tribute To Dolly’s Faith And Legacy

The emotional award acceptance was part of a larger celebration of Dolly’s influence at the 57th Annual Dove Awards, held October 6 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena under the theme “Together For One.”

Natalie Grant and Amy Grant also honored Dolly with performances of “How Great Thou Art” and “I Will Always Love You,” recognizing both her faith and her extraordinary songwriting legacy.

The Grascals later performed their award-winning song, with Sonya Isaacs singing the part Dolly had originally performed.

For the band, the recognition represented more than another trophy. It celebrated a relationship with Dolly that had stretched across two decades and culminated in a song that carried a deeply personal message.

Dolly’s voice may no longer fill a room in person, but that voicemail reminded everyone listening of the warmth, humor and generosity that made her so beloved.

And as Jamie Johnson stood onstage, remembering the woman who had helped him turn a personal struggle into a song of hope, his words said what the award itself could not fully express.

“And you did, Dolly.”

Three simple words — but a powerful tribute to a woman whose music continues to reach people when they need it most.