Musgraves performed a cover of Parton’s 1977 pop crossover hit “Here You Come Again” and dedicated her own ballad “Rainbow” to the country music icon, who passed away on August 25 following a brief battle with cancer.
The Bottom Line
- The Setlist: Musgraves performed a cover of Parton’s classic “Here You Come Again” and dedicated her own Golden Hour ballad “Rainbow” to the late icon.
- The History: Musgraves has a longstanding history with Parton’s catalog, having previously performed “Here You Come Again” alongside Parton at the 2019 Grammy Awards.
Boston TD Garden Tribute Honors Parton’s Humanitarian Legacy
Kacey Musgraves took a moment on stage Friday night to remind the arena crowd of the profound cultural imprint left behind by Dolly Parton. Addressing the audience in support of her Middle of Nowhere album tour, Musgraves pointed out that public conversations following Parton’s passing stretch far beyond her countless career accolades and Grammy achievements.
“Someone always looking out for someone else, looking out for the underdog, even when it probably wasn’t easy, even when it didn’t benefit her career. We can all learn a lot from someone like that.”
Large screens behind the stage displayed photographs of Parton while the arena joined together for a mass sing-along of “Rainbow,” the closing track from Musgraves’ Grammy Award-winning 2018 album, Golden Hour.
“She’s woven into the fabric of who we’ve always been, so it just feels extra sad. Let’s all sing this together for her memory, OK?” Musgraves suggested to the packed venue.
Deep Roots: Musgraves’ Longstanding Connection to ‘Here You Come Again’
Following the emotional delivery of “Rainbow,” Musgraves transitioned directly into Parton’s legendary track “Here You Come Again.” Written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, the song originally served as Parton’s breakthrough pop crossover hit, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 back in 1978.
But the math tells a different story about just how massive that track was for Parton’s crossover appeal. Throughout her prolific songwriting career, only two other recordings from Parton managed to surpass its success on the all-genre ranking: “9 to 5” and her Kenny Rogers duet “Islands in the Stream,” both of which secured Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 spots in the early 1980s.
For Musgraves, singing “Here You Come Again” is far from a spontaneous tribute choice. The artist has kept a solo cover of the track in her live concert rotation dating back to 2014. Furthermore, the performance echoes high-profile collaborations from the past, including a memorable 2019 Grammy Awards segment featuring a medley of Parton’s biggest hits, as well as a performance alongside pop star Katy Perry at the MusiCares Person of the Year gala.
Charting Parton’s Unmatched Commercial Milestones
To understand the sheer magnitude of Parton’s influence on artists like Musgraves, one only has to look at the historical data of her biggest crossover triumphs on the charts. Below is a breakdown of Parton’s highest-charting singles on the Billboard Hot 100.
| Song Title | Release Year | Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position |
|---|---|---|
| “9 to 5” | 1980 | No. 1 |
| “Islands in the Stream” (with Kenny Rogers) | 1983 | No. 1 |
| “Here You Come Again” | 1977 | No. 3 |
Backing up her admiration with deep-seated industry respect, Musgraves previously praised Parton’s multifaceted approach to stardom during a red carpet interview at the 2019 Grammy Awards. “She’s an earth angel,” Musgraves stated at the time. “She really is. She’s so cool. She’s so present. What I like about her is she has a keen attention to detail, and that’s obviously why she’s had such a long, amazing career.”
As live music continues to process the loss of one of country music’s greatest architects, moments like the Boston TD Garden tribute demonstrate how deeply Parton’s blueprint is ingrained in contemporary performers. Drop a comment below to share your favorite Dolly Parton song or live tribute memory.
