WATCH: Chris Stapleton Honors Dolly Parton With Emotional “I Will Always Love You” Tribute

Just one day after Dolly Parton’s heartbreaking passing, Chris Stapleton took the stage and delivered a tribute that left an entire crowd silent.

Stapleton was performing Wednesday night at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York, as part of his All-American Road Show Tour when he paused his set to remember the country music legend.

As a black-and-white image of Dolly appeared on the giant screen behind him, Stapleton began singing her timeless classic, “I Will Always Love You.”

The moment quickly became one of the most emotional tributes to Dolly since news of her death broke.

Stapleton’s distinctive, gravelly voice brought a raw and soulful quality to the song, allowing the emotion behind Dolly’s lyrics to take center stage. As he continued singing, the crowd joined in, turning the performance into a massive farewell from thousands of fans.

When the final note faded, Stapleton spoke from the heart about the woman behind the legend.

“Dolly Parton was one of the greatest musical… kindest and sweetest people we’ve ever had on this planet earth.”

He encouraged everyone in the audience to remember not only Dolly’s music, but also the kindness and generosity she showed throughout her life.

Stapleton revealed that he had the privilege of meeting Dolly several times and working with her, saying she was everything she had dreamed she would become.

Then came the words that brought the emotion of the night into focus:

“We will all miss her very much. I miss her tonight and every night after this.”

Those words carried even more weight because Stapleton and Dolly weren’t strangers.

The two artists had worked together on several occasions, including Dolly’s 2023 album Rockstar, where they recorded a version of Bob Seger’s “Night Moves.”

But on this night, there was no collaboration—just a singer standing on stage, honoring a legend who had touched generations.

And choosing “I Will Always Love You” made the moment especially powerful.

Dolly wrote the song herself, long before Whitney Houston turned it into a worldwide phenomenon. Decades later, the song has become something even more meaningful: a farewell that can be heard around the world.

As the country music community continues to mourn Dolly, tributes like Stapleton’s remind us why her legacy will never disappear.

The voice may be gone, but the songs—and the love behind them—will be here forever.