“We Will Always Love You”: Reba McEntire’s Sitcom Happy’s Place to Conclude with Touching On-Screen Tribute to Dolly Parton
Reba McEntire’s NBC comedy series Happy’s Place is set to honor the memory of beloved country music icon Dolly Parton with a special on-screen tribute during its upcoming broadcast.
The tribute comes in the wake of Parton’s passing earlier this year, an event that deeply affected McEntire, who shared a close friendship and artistic collaboration with the fellow legend spanning several decades.
The Sitcom Tribute: An Ofrenda and a Final Dedication
Xem bài viết này trên Instagram
The tribute is integrated into the October 30 episode of Happy’s Place, which centers thematically on Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead):
-
The Scene and Ofrenda: Co-star Belissa Escobedo shared with PEOPLE that the timing of the episode aligned in an unexpected, serendipitous way, as the cast and crew were actively filming on the soundstage when news of Parton’s death first broke. As part of the storyline’s traditional ofrenda (altar), cast members placed personal mementos for their own deceased loved ones—and added a photograph of Parton to the altar.
-
The Final Title Card: The episode will conclude with a dedicated memorial screen featuring a photograph of Parton and McEntire together, accompanied by the inscription:“We will always love you.”
-
The Photo’s Origins: McEntire revealed to USA Today that the picture was taken during the production of their 2021 remake of “Does He Love You,” the classic duet originally recorded by McEntire and Linda Davis in 1993.“Every memory I have with Dolly is a good one,” McEntire noted. “I am so fortunate and blessed to got to do a song with her.”
Reflecting on a Lifelong Friendship
Appearing on The Jennifer Hudson Show, McEntire described learning of Parton’s passing on the set of Happy’s Place and processing the moment alongside her castmates, which includes Melissa Peterman, Belissa Escobedo, Tokala Black Elk, Pablo Castelblanco, and her fiancé Rex Linn:
-
A Celebration of Faith: Rather than dwelling solely in grief, McEntire recalled reframing the moment for those on set:“And everybody was like, ‘Reba, we’re so sorry.’ I said, ‘Don’t say you’re sorry, this gal’s going on. She knows where she’s going. It’s a huge celebration.’ But I felt her with me the whole day.”
A Continuing Series of Honors
Xem bài viết này trên Instagram
The sitcom dedication marks the latest in a series of high-profile memorial tributes McEntire has led across recent weeks:
-
78th Emmy Awards (September 14): McEntire delivered a stirring performance of “Appalachian Memories” during the In Memoriam segment, remarking later that she felt Parton’s presence on stage with her during the emotional performance.
-
CMA Dolly Parton Tribute Special (October 21): McEntire opened the star-studded concert celebration with a heartfelt monologue reflecting on Parton’s enduring global impact. She later returned to the stage to perform an impassioned rendition of the gospel hymn “He’s Alive”, sharing the evening’s tribute bill with artists including Vince Gill, Carrie Underwood, Zac Brown, Ella Langley, and Lainey Wilson.
The tribute episode airs on NBC on Friday, October 30 at 8:00 PM ET, with streaming availability following on Peacock the next day.