At the 2023 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards, Dolly Parton paid tribute to her late friends and fellow country music icons Loretta Lynn and Naomi Judd with a heartfelt a cappella performance. Parton, who co-hosted the show with Garth Brooks, sang the hymn “Precious Memories” in memory of the two musicians who passed away in 2022, per PEOPLE.

Speaking about Lynn, Parton, who is 77 years old, called her “a hero and one of the most important, but still down-to-earth singer-songwriters in history.” She then spoke fondly about her relationship with Judd, saying “Naomi and I, well, we're the same age, both real G.O.A.Ts, Capricorns, and we loved big hair. I still do. And we loved that makeup. But above all else, we loved each other.”

Brooks complimented Parton's tribute, calling it “beautifully said.” He went on to say, “Tonight we lovingly remember all those we've lost in our country music family, and we promise to do our best to keep the circle forever unbroken in their memory.”

Article Continues Below
Related Entertainment News
Warner Bros., Harry Potter
Harry Potter HBO series casts its leading trioBurtland Dixon ·
Taylor Swift, who did not announce Reputation (Taylor's Version) at the 2025 AMAs, winning Album of the Year at the Grammys.
Did Taylor Swift announce Reputation (Taylor’s Version) at the AMAs?Andrew Korpan ·
Tyler Perry arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, April 25, 2021
New Tyler Perry show ‘She The People’ has an HBCU twistRandall Barnes ·
Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning stars Hayley Atwell (as Peggy Carter from Marvel) and Tom Cruise, who almost played Tony Stark/Iron Man in the MCU.
Exclusive: Hayley Atwell gets real on Tom Cruise almost playing Iron ManAndrew Korpan ·
U2 singer Bono, who revealed the title of the first song on their next album, on tour in 2018.
U2’s Bono finally reveals the name of the first song from their next albumAndrew Korpan ·
Tom Cruise, star of Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning, which does not have a post-credits scene, with movie theater background.
Does Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning have a post-credits scene?Andrew Korpan ·

Naomi Judd died by suicide in April 2022 at the age of 76, while Loretta Lynn passed away at the age of 90 in October of the same year. Both were beloved figures in the country music industry, and their passing was felt deeply by their peers and fans alike.

In addition to her tribute performance, Parton also wowed the audience with a show-stopping final number. She performed her new single, “World on Fire,” which is set to appear on her upcoming rock album, Rockstar. It was the first time the song had been performed live, and Parton's performance was met with thunderous applause.

The 2023 ACM Awards were a night of celebration and remembrance for the country music community, and Dolly Parton's tribute to Loretta Lynn and Naomi Judd was a poignant reminder of the impact these women had on the industry and on the lives of those who knew and loved them.