At the Grammy’s MusiCares 2019 Person Of The Year, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Dolly Parton was honored by Superstar performers, Multi-GRAMMY®-winning artists and current GRAMMY nominees: Pink, Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Willie Nelson, Katy Perry, Don Henley, Linda Perry, Shawn Mendes, Little Big Town, Kacey Musgraves, Chris Stapleton, Maren Morris, Vince Gill, Norah Jones, Yolanda Adams, Brandi Carlile, Lauren Daigle, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Cam, Jennifer Nettles, Margo Price, Chris Stapleton, Mavis Staples, Leon Bridges, Jon Batiste, Michael McDonald, and MusiCares Show Hosts: Jimi Westbrook, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, and Phillip Sweet of Little Big Town ! Now say that in one breath! You can’t beat that lineup of superstars !
During the show Miley Cyrus sang “Islands in the Stream,” with Shawn Mendes and producer Mark Ronson, but no one could be expected to match the sizzling chemistry Parton and Kenny Rogers displayed on the 1983 smash., “I’m just looking forward to listening to all her songs tonight and not having to listen to anything else. I listened to a station the other day called Dolly Radio and they started playing other artists. And I thought, ‘No! I only want to listen to Dolly when I’m listening to Dolly Radio.’ Tonight, it’s all Dolly songs.”Cyrus’ father, Billy Ray Cyrus, is longtime friends with Parton and named the “Jolene” singer his daughter’s godmother.
“We love you, Doll,” said Willie Nelson affectionately, undoubtedly speaking for everyone in the ballroom at the Los Angeles Convention Center as Dolly Parton was honored as MusiCares Person of the Year.
Former tour mates Katy Perry and Kacey Musgraves delivered a sassy “Here You Come Again,” and two-thirds of the current Eagles incarnation, Don Henley and Vince Gill, teamed for a harmony-filled “Eagle When She Flies.” Not surprisingly, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood displayed the evening’s strongest chemistry on a slow, simmering take on “Old Flames Can’t Hold a Candle to You,” with Brooks backing his wife on acoustic guitar and occasionally chiming in on vocals.
Though nothing could replicate the exquisite intertwining of Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris’s voices on their Trio projects, Cam, Jennifer Nettles and Margo Price came damn close on their wistful, gorgeous rendition of “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind.”
P!nk opened the show by setting the bar high with Parton classic “Jolene” while capturing the song’s defiant tone, and Chris Stapleton turned the jaunty “9 To 5” into a rollicking working man’s theme.
Parton has won eight Grammys out of 47 nominations during her career and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In her 8-minute speech, which was a combination of stand-up comedy and heartfelt reflection, Parton — who has landed 26 No. 1s on Billboard’s Country Songs chart — took a good-natured jab at MusiCares for honoring a country artist as Person of the Year for the first time in 2019. “Of course, you know we hillbillies need MusiCares too. We may not have the sex, drugs and rock and roll, but two out of three ain’t bad,” she said.
Past MusiCares Person of the Year honorees include: Tony Bennett, Bono, Natalie Cole, Phil Collins, David Crosby, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Gloria Estefan, Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Don Henley, Billy Joel, Elton John, Quincy Jones, Carole King, Paul McCartney, Luciano Pavarotti, Tom Petty, Bonnie Raitt, Lionel Richie, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Barbra Streisand, James Taylor, Brian Wilson, Stevie Wonder, and Neil Young.
MusiCares 2019 Person of the Year set list:
“Jolene,” P!nk
“Everything is Beautiful (In Its Own Way),” Willie Nelson & Brandi Carlile
“The Seeker,” Lauren Daigle
“Islands in the Stream,” Miley Cyrus, Shawn Mendes & Mark Ronson
“9 To 5,” Chris Stapleton
“Here You Come Again,” Katy Perry & Kacey Musgraves
“The Grass is Blue,” Norah Jones w/ Puss N Boots
“Eagle When She Flies,” Don Henley & Vince Gill
“Old Flames Can’t Hold a Candle to You,” Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood
“Not Enough,” Mavis Staples, Leon Bridges and Jon Batiste
“I Will Always Love You,” Yolanda Adams
“Do I Ever Cross Your Mind,” Cam, Jennifer Nettles and Margo Price
“Coat of Many Colors,” Dolly Parton & Linda Perry
Stay tuned for live daily round-the-clock news coverage from our news team in Los Angeles, Hollywood and Beverly Hills, during all of The Awards season from Entertainment & Sports Today TV, and Entertainment Today, and for the complete story go to: entertainmentandsportstoday.com, on Facebook & Instagram: @entertainmentandsportstoday, and Youtube.com/entertainmenttodaytv @pink #Pink @VGcom #DonHenley @KaceyMusgraves, @WillieNelson, #KatyPerry @KatyPerry @RealLindaPerry #GarthBrooks @GarthBrooks #TrishaYearwood @TrishaYearwood @MileyCyrus @mavisstaples @leonbridges @Lauren_Daigle @norahjones @ShawnMendes @MarkRonson and @ChrisStapleton will be performing in honor of @DollyParton at @MusiCares
