Dolly Parton’s fans have a fall to remember. ABC is airing a two-hour tribute to the country icon, and the network has packed the schedule with it. The concert special “CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton” will air Wednesday, October 21 at 9 p.m. on ABC, followed by a stream on Hulu the next day.
The show comes as Parton’s legend grows larger still. She died in August at the age of 80, following “a brief battle with cancer,” according to her representatives. Her passing drew tributes from across entertainment, including her “9 to 5” co-stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, plus fellow country star Reba McEntire.
The Tribute Special
The concert is filmed live at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville. It runs two hours and aims to honor Parton as artist, songwriter, entertainer, humanitarian and entrepreneur. The description frames it as a joyful, emotional look at the woman who carried her music from the mountains of east Tennessee into the hearts of generations around the world.
“told through performances, archival footage and personal stories that trace her extraordinary journey to becoming one of the most beloved entertainers and philanthropists in American history.”
Performers will be announced at a later date. The special promises to cover the full arc of Parton’s career, from her early days in Tennessee to her global fame as a singer, actress and businesswoman.
Harrison Returns To TV
Also on the fall slate is “Chris Harrison’s The Vow,” the new dating show from the man who hosted “The Bachelor” for years. Harrison left that franchise in 2021 amid a firestorm of controversy.
The show premieres Wednesday, November 11 on Fox Nation with the first two episodes. New episodes will air weekly after that. The premise is simple: 30-year-old bachelor Jace Cates will embark on a relationship journey with ten women, each seeking lasting commitment and marriage.
Baking, Reality TV Docs And JLo
The fall lineup also brings back “The Great British Baking Show.” The U.K. baking competition returns for a new season Friday, September 25 on Netflix, with new episodes airing each Friday. A fresh batch of amateur bakers will serve up their creations to judges Paul Hollywood and his new partner Nigella Lawson.
There is also a reality-TV doc. “The Swan: Behind the Mirror” premieres Tuesday, September 29 on Hulu. The documentary looks at the controversial Fox reality show “The Swan,” which offered cosmetic surgery to its contestants. It interviews the women who went under the knife and the producers behind the show, revealing the complicated human stories behind one of reality TV’s most talked-about experiments.
CBS rounds out the fall with “The JLo Show: Live in Las Vegas.” The two-hour film chronicles Jennifer Lopez’s 2025 Sin City residency and airs Thursday, November 26 at 8 p.m. The special also streams on Paramount+, which offers an extended version.
War Arrives On HBO
The drama series “War” premieres Thursday, October 1 at 9 p.m. on HBO. Dominic West and Sienna Miller star as a high-profile couple in the midst of an ugly divorce. HBO has released the full trailer for the show.
The Fall Lineup
The Parton tribute is the anchor, and it arrives at a moment when the country is still processing her loss. The rest of the schedule leans toward comfort viewing: baking shows, dating shows, and reality-TV docs that hold a mirror to older television.
The JLo special is a safe bet. A two-hour film of her performances should find an audience.
The baking show and the reality-TV doc are smaller bets. “The Great British Baking Show” has returned for a new season. The “Swan” documentary is a notable experiment worth examining.
Harrison’s return is notable because of his past controversy. His exit from “The Bachelor” was messy, and this new show gives him a platform to return to the screen.
The fall lineup is a pleasant, varied slate. The Parton tribute is the highlight, and everything else is a bonus. Fans of Parton will want to tune in. Fans of baking will want to watch. Fans of reality-TV docs will want to see the “Swan” story. Everyone else can pick and choose.
The Parton tribute is the one that stands out. It honors a woman who shaped country music and pop culture alike, and it does so with performances, archival footage and personal stories that trace her journey.
The rest of the lineup is pleasant, but not essential. That is fine. The tribute is the reason to watch.
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