Shania Twain Gave Dolly Parton a Shoutout at ACM Awards: Inside Their Sweet Friendship Over the Years
The ‘Man! I Feel Like a Woman!’ singer says she looks up to Dolly
Key Takeaways
- Shania Twain was the host of the 2026 ACM Awards on May 17 in Las Vegas.
- While hosting, she gave a shoutout to Dolly Parton, who she has looked up to for years.
- Here, read all about the relationship between Shania Twain and Dolly Parton.
At last night’s Academy of Country Music Awards, the biggest names in the genre gathered under one roof to celebrate the greatest country artists of today. Shania Twain led the way at this year’s ACM Awards as host, but she certainly didn’t forget those who came before her. One of the artists Shania gave a special nod to was Dolly Parton, who the “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” singer has praised and says she has looked up to for years.
After Shania’s walk down memory lane last night, take a look at the sweet friendship between these two country music icons.
Shania Twain gave Dolly Parton a shoutout before the ACM Awards
Leading up to her big hosting gig, Shania Twain got candid with USA Today about taking on such an exciting endeavor, reflected back on her early days on the country music scene, and pondered the next great country musician to achieve worldwide fame.
She also gave a special nod to her pal, Dolly. “I am what my greatest influences were as a child and that never left me,” she shared of the impact bluegrass and rock had on her interpretation of country music. “So that did make me an outsider when I first came into Nashville. But now I think we’re just getting back to more originality, spreading ourselves out stylistically.”
“Maybe we’re going to have another Dolly Parton finally again, who is the first woman to ever go global,” she continued. “Why don’t we have five of those by now, right?”
Shania Twain and Dolly shared the stage once before
In 2003, Shania Twain performed alongside Dolly Parton on The Oprah Winfrey Show, bringing to life a rendition of Dolly’s hit, “Coat of Many Colors.”
“This is definitely a lifelong dream of mine,” Shania began before introducing the blonde icon. “And what more can I say than this is my hero—musical and personal hero—of all time. A beautiful person inside and out and the person that I always wanted to grow up to be.”
Their sweet duet showcased a beautiful harmony between the two, and it’s a moment that’s stuck with Shania for over two decades. In January, Shania shared a video to her Instagram in honor of Dolly’s birthday, reflecting on their moment spent on stage together and sharing the love with her hero.
“I want to wish the most happiest of birthdays to my musical hero @dollyparton!,” she wrote in the caption. “What a privilege it is to know you…Little Miss Twain was so lucky growing up with you as a role model. We are strong, kick-ass women in country music just like so many before us, but you were my true inspiration.”
In 2006, Shania shared a sweet tribute to Dolly at the Kennedy Center Honors when she covered the song again.
Shania Twain related to Dolly’s upbringing
In conversation with CBC, Shania opened up about the way she related to Dolly Parton’s humble origins, reflecting on the lyrics of “Coat of Many Colors” and the way much of her clothes growing up were secondhand. “Dolly’s every little girl’s perfect example of what is possible when you come from nothing,” she shared.
Shania and Dolly’s friendship reminds us that the women who inspire us most are often the ones who lift us up and show us what’s possible. Could there be another collaboration between the two in the future? We hope so!
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