Emmys to feature Dolly Parton tribute and Noah Kahan In Memoriam performance

The 78th Emmy Awards, set for Monday, Sept. 14, will feature a dedicated tribute to Dolly Parton, whose passing on Aug. 25 at age 80 prompted producers at Jesse Collins Entertainment to craft a “very beautiful” homage. Roots-country singer Noah Kahan will close the In Memoriam segment with a rendition of “Bridge Over Troubled Waters,” a song he says holds personal meaning. Host Mariska Hargitay, alongside executive producers Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay, is preparing the telecast, which now includes five award categories shifted to Night 2 to allow more time for performances and speeches.

The ceremony will also honor Michael J. Fox with the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award and mark the 50th anniversary of “Charlie’s Angels” and the 30th of “Buffy, the Vampire Slayer.” Additional plans include a blue step-and-repeat carpet for one outlet’s 100th anniversary and a charitable donation of olive trees from Hargitay’s brother’s plant business to a local shelter.