Dolly Parton could earn Grammy nods in 2026 for “If You Hadn’t Been There,” a touching tribute to her late husband that highlights her unmatched songwriting legacy. NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 20: Dolly Parton speaks onstage at Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs In Symphony World Premiere at Schermerhorn Symphony Center on March 20, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
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Dolly Parton is one of the most respected artists in the music industry. Few acts have managed to maintain popularity and commercial viability for half a century, as she has, and her career ranks as one of the longest among women in the history of country music.
As more time goes on, she becomes more and more beloved, and both the music business and millions of fans all around the world take every opportunity to reward her work, her talent, and her perseverance. Already a 10-time Grammy winner and 55-time nominee, Parton may be headed for several nominations at the 2026 ceremony thanks to one of her most touching compositions.
Dolly Parton’s Emotional Tribute to Her Late Husband
On March 6, Parton released her standalone single “If You Hadn’t Been There.” The tune was a tribute to her husband, who died just a few days prior. The singer-songwriter and her spouse, Carl Dean, spent 60 years together, and despite her being one of the most famous faces and names in country music, he stayed out of the spotlight, and she rarely discussed their love.
“If You Hadn’t Been There” was heralded as a triumph from Parton and a rare look inside her personal life, one which deserves to be recognized.
How Did Dolly Parton’s “If You Hadn’t Been There” Perform on the Charts?
While critics loved it and fans fawned over its message, “If You Hadn’t Been There” wasn’t the biggest commercial success of Parton’s career. The track did debut at No. 1 on the Country Digital Song Sales chart, amazingly becoming her first champion on that tally. The tune also reached third place on the all-genre Digital Song Sales ranking, and it immediately stood out as one of Parton’s most successful tunes on that roster.
Grammy voters don’t focus entirely on chart positions or sales or streams, and when a track is as meaningful as this one and comes from such a well-known superstar, where it landed on the weekly tallies — or the fact that it didn’t hold on for very long — probably won’t play a major role in whether or not it ends up being nominated.
Will Dolly Parton Win Best Country Song?
Parton’s best shot at earning a nod with “If You Hadn’t Been There” is likely in the Best Country Song category. The prize, as with any other field from the Recording Academy that uses the word “song,” is given to songwriters — which in this case means Parton alone, as she penned the tune without help.
Parton has long been recognized for her songwriting ability, and there’s a clear desire to honor her legacy and her unstoppable work ethic, which may lead voters to include the heartbreaking cut in this field.
How Many Times Has Dolly Parton Been Nominated for Best Country Song?
Despite being one of the most prolific songwriters in country music history – and one of the most successful in many respects – Parton has only ever been up for Best Country Song at the Grammys twice. She won the prize in 1982 for “9 to 5.” 10 years later, she was nominated again for “Eagle When She Flies,” but that year, she lost to “Love Can Build a Bridge” by The Judds.
Will Dolly Parton Compete for Song of the Year?
Parton also stands a real shot at being nominated for Song of the Year, which is genre-agnostic. One of the Big Four categories, alongside Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Best New Artist, Song of the Year is awarded to the tune that voters feel was the most brilliantly composed, or which stands out from countless other tunes as an undeniable piece of songwriting.
Only once has Parton been in the running for Song of the Year, and she’s never managed to claim the trophy. “9 to 5” lost to “Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes. Although the singer didn’t take home the honor, “Bette Davis Eyes” — one of the biggest hits of that year — was written by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon.
Why Dolly Parton Might Score a Song of the Year Nomination
For decades, Song of the Year, like the other big categories, only featured five slots, and they were typically reserved for some of the most famous, critically-acclaimed smashes of the year. More recently, the field has been expanded to eight rungs, which makes room for not only more commercial successes, but also the releases that would otherwise have been passed over, despite their ingenuity and beauty, as they simply didn’t end up on people’s radars. Several relatively unknown tracks have been up for Song of the Year at the past few ceremonies, including Jon Batiste’s “Butterfly,” Lana Del Rey’s “A&W,” and Bonnie Raitt’s “Just Like That,” which was a shocking winner at the 2023 event.
Which Other Grammy Categories Could Dolly Parton Compete In?
“If You Hadn’t Been There” could also be on track to end up in the Best Country Solo Performance category, although that doesn’t seem to have quite the chances as in the songwriting fields. Performance verticals are usually where big hits reside, and since Parton’s tribute wasn’t among the most successful country cuts of the year, it seems like her work as a songwriter will be recognized before her work as a performer.
Parton scored her first Best Country Solo Performance nomination just last year for “The Last Thing on My Mind.” Before the Recording Academy combined its gendered fields, she tied Emmylou Harris for the all-time record for most nods in the Best Female Country Vocal Performance arena, with 18 chances to win.
Dolly Parton’s Recent Grammy History Explained
Parton stands a good chance of being nominated again, if for no other reason than because she is often featured in at least one category. She’s earned nods at the last two Grammy ceremonies – in 2024 for Best Country Solo Performance, and at the show that took place earlier in 2025 in the Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording vertical for Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones – although she didn’t claim either prize.
Parton last won a Grammy in 2021. That year, she joined Zach Williams on “There Was Jesus,” which came out on top in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song category.
When Are the 2026 Grammy Nominations Announced?
Eligibility for the 2026 Grammys ran from September 1, 2024 through August 30, 2025. Nominations are expected to be revealed by the Recording Academy on November 7, 2025.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2025/10/01/dolly-partons-touching-tribute-could-earn-her-overdue-grammy-nominations/
