Carrie Underwood brought an emotional close to CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton on Wednesday night, October 21, with a powerful performance of one of the country legend’s most beloved songs.

Wearing a flowing white dress with butterfly details, Underwood sang Dolly Parton’s classic ballad I Will Always Love You. Several performers joined her onstage near the end, bringing the ABC special to a moving finish as the music community came together to honor Parton’s life and legacy.

The tribute also included Zac Brown performing Butterfly alongside Parton’s prerecorded vocals, Ella Langley singing Jolene, and performances from Brad Paisley, Vince Gill and other country stars.

Fans praise Carrie Underwood’s emotional performance

Viewers quickly shared their reactions to Underwood’s rendition, with many praising her vocals, the heartfelt arrangement and the butterfly imagery that appeared during the performance.

One fan called it “absolutely breathtaking,” while another declared, “Carrie Underwood killed that song!!!! Best performance of the night!!!!!! So beautiful!!!!”

Others appreciated that Underwood stayed close to Parton’s original country style instead of trying to recreate Whitney Houston’s famous version. One viewer wrote, “I’m so glad they chose her. She kept it simple and no crazy runs… kept it Dolly style ❤️ beautiful.”

Another fan praised the visual details, writing, “I love the butterfly flying behind her. It feels like Dolly is singing along.”

The butterfly imagery also left some viewers feeling as though Parton was present during the tribute. One commenter shared the touching thought that Dolly was “up there giving Carrie a standing ovation.”

For many fans, the performance brought back feelings of grief following Parton’s death in August. One viewer admitted, “I thought enough time had passed and I was done crying. Boy, was I wrong!” Another wrote, “I think we will cry over Dolly Parton for the rest of our lives. She is a legend and so loved!”

Several viewers also said the performance reminded them how deeply Parton had touched generations of music fans. One fan praised Underwood for delivering a meaningful tribute, while another described the entire special as a beautiful celebration of the singer’s legacy.

However, not everyone agreed on how Underwood’s rendition compared with other versions of the song.

Some viewers argued that Whitney Houston’s 1992 recording remains unmatched. One commenter wrote, “No one will ever sing it like Whitney Houston did, even though it’s Dolly Parton’s song 🥲.” Another said that only Parton and Houston could do the song justice, despite being a fan of Underwood.

Others pushed back against the comparisons, suggesting that the performance should be appreciated as a tribute rather than a competition. One viewer questioned why people were comparing the singers, pointing out that Parton performed the song in her own style and that Underwood was honoring her.

The range of opinions highlighted how personal the song has become to listeners, with Parton’s original recording and Houston’s powerful interpretation both holding special places in music history.

The story behind Dolly Parton’s iconic song

Although I Will Always Love You became one of Parton’s signature songs, she originally wrote it as a farewell to Porter Wagoner, the country star who helped launch her career by featuring her on his television variety show.

Wagoner became Parton’s mentor and frequent duet partner. The pair released 13 duet albums and won the Country Music Association Award for Vocal Duo of the Year three times.

By 1974, however, Parton was ready to pursue a solo career. She left Wagoner’s show and expressed her feelings through a song that would become a country music standard.

Parton performed the ballad for Wagoner again in 2007 to honor his 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

“If it hadn’t been for Porter, I wouldn’t have written this song,” Parton said at the time. “This is kind of my goodbye song to Porter.”

Whitney Houston introduced the song to a new generation in 1992 with her recording for The Bodyguard soundtrack. Her version became a global hit and helped establish the ballad as one of the most recognizable songs in music history.

Since Parton’s death in August, artists across the music industry have continued to honor her legacy through performances of her beloved songs. Underwood’s emotional rendition gave fans another opportunity to celebrate the singer whose music continues to bring people together.