In the video, Parton says ,”Well, hey, it’s Dolly, and I am so honored to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association. I mean, roots music, or what is now called Americana music, is what I grew up playing back in the Smoky Mountains. It’s that same music that drew me back to East Tennessee back in 1997 to write and record my album ‘Hungry Again.’
“And that project really opened the door to a series of bluegrass and acoustic albums that changed the course of my career in so many ways. Now, new fans discovered these albums, new Americana music communities embraced them, and now, looking back at it all, I see this era of my career as a musical renaissance of sorts.”
She concluded, “And I want to thank everybody at the AMA for recognizing me with this award. It’s a great honor, truly. And just know that I will always love you.”
Parton receiving the lifetime achievement award was announced just this month, but obviously long in the works. The existence of the acceptance speech was a surprise to the audience, as was the musical performance that followed.
On the red carpet, Carlile told Variety, “Dolly’s being honored this year, and that makes me feel really good to be able to be there and bear witness to that.”
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