Taylor Swift Dedicates Top VMA Win to “Ultimate Showgirl” Dolly Parton

Taylor Swift Dedicates Top Prize at MTV VMAs 2026 to “Ultimate Showgirl” Dolly Parton

Taylor Swift is keeping it 100 on the land, the sea and at the VMAs. 

The “Fate of Ophelia” singer accepted the top prize for Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards—further cementing herself as the most decorated artist in the award show’s history with 32 total awards—and dedicated the award to the late Dolly Parton.

“I want to thank and dedicate this award to one person, without whom this wouldn't be happening, and that person is the ultimate showgirl, Dolly Parton,” Swift said while accepting the Moon Person trophy. “Every single song that she wrote, her storytelling was so vivid and so rich.”

As the 36-year-old saw it, “Listening to her songs, it's like watching the best music video you have ever seen in your life every single time you hear what she has written.”

Plus, Swift—whose husband Travis Kelce missed the awards show due to an NFL game—was in awe at how Parton persevered throughout her entire career.

“Man, she handled this thing with such grace and joy and love and gratitude for the fact that she got to do this,” she continued, “and everything that happened in her life or her career, she channeled back into love and gratitude and appreciation for her fans.”

So, the “Lavender Haze” singer expressed a similar appreciation to her supporters. 

“I love you all so very much,” she said, “and I think that we were all very, very lucky to share this planet with Dolly Parton for a time, and thank you for this amazing moment. I love you all.”