Kacey Musgraves’ Dolly Parton Tributes Continue With ‘9 To 5’ At MSG
Watch Musgraves revive the Parton classic for the first time since 2022.
By Scott Bernstein Sep 1, 2026 • 7:40 am PDT
Kacey Musgraves continued mourning Dolly Parton on Monday during the first of two Middle Of Nowhere Tour concerts at Madison Square Garden. Musgraves remembered the country music icon, who died on August 25 at age 80, and revived her cover of Parton’s “9 To 5” for the first time in more than four years.
Images of Parton appeared on a large screen as Musgraves paused the concert to discuss her death. “I’m not over it, and I’m never gonna be over it,” Musgraves told the crowd, as reported by Rolling Stone.
Musgraves called Parton “the closest thing we’ve ever had to royalty” and a “supernova of a person.” She spoke about how difficult it was to lose such an important figure during an already challenging period and took comfort in believing Parton would remain part of “the fabric of space and time.”
“I definitely, for sure, I would not be able to stand up here and do what I do if it hadn’t been for Dolly Parton,” Musgraves added before dedicating “Rainbow” to the late singer-songwriter.
Musgraves followed the Golden Hour ballad with “9 To 5,” marking her first performance of the Parton-penned theme song to the 1980 film of the same name since July 9, 2022. Musgraves previously covered “9 To 5” five times in 2022, including four renditions during the Star-Crossed: Unveiled Tour’s “Kacey Karaoke” segment.
Monday’s homage followed Musgraves’ tributes to Parton at TD Garden in Boston on Friday. The singer-songwriter revealed Parton inspired “Rainbow” and then covered “Here You Come Again.”
The MSG set also featured covers of the Texas Tornados’ “(Hey Baby) ¿Qué Pasó?” and George Strait’s “All My Ex’s Live In Texas.” Musgraves returns to The Garden tonight for the second half of the two-night stand.
Watch Kacey Musgraves honor Dolly Parton with “9 To 5” below:
Setlist
- Everybody Wants to Be a Cowboy
- Dry Spell
- justified
- High Horse
- Merry Go 'Round
- Butterflies
- Abilene
- Back on the Wagon
- I Believe in Ghosts
- Uncertain, TX
- Horses and Divorces
- (Hey Baby) ¿Qué pasó?
- Golden Hour
- Loneliest Girl
- Rhinestoned
- Mexico Honey
- Middle of Nowhere
- Slow Burn
- Space Cowboy
- Rainbow
- 9 to 5
- Follow Your Arrow
- All My Ex's Live in Texas
- Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?
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