Dolly Parton's legacy sparkled over Nashville this week

The Country Music Association (CMA) hosted "I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton" at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday night.

Some of the genre's biggest stars made appearances, both performing Parton's songs onstage and walking the red carpet in outfits inspired by the music legend.

These are the best-dressed stars we saw.

Kelsea Ballerini looked elegant in white feathers and diamonds.

She arrived on the red carpet wearing a $1,250 draped, satin gown from Bronx Banco's bridal line.

It had feather-lined bell sleeves, a low back, and a floor-length skirt. Ballerini paired it with an updo hairstyle and long diamond earrings.

She looked like a Hollywood starlet and perfectly mirrored the best of Parton's famous glam.

Lainey Wilson kept true to her style while also honoring Parton.

Wilson's signature style is pretty different from Parton's. The singer and "Yellowstone" star prefers bell-bottoms and cowboy hats to rhinestone dresses and big hairdos.

Still, Wilson honored the legend with her outfit: black trousers worn with a butterfly-print duster top. She also wore cowboy boots, a matching hat, and thick western jewelry.

Butterflies were famously Parton's favorite motif, as she grew up around them in Tennessee.

Reba McEntire honored her friend onstage while wearing a classic country getup.

McEntire performed "He's Alive" while wearing a white, caftan-style dress with a collar and long sleeves.

The latter were lined with long, rhinestoned fringe, while the dress itself was embellished with a rhinestone scrollwork pattern.

It was the perfect outfit choice to deliver an emotional tribute.

Kristin Chenoweth wore a dress that looked like it could have come from Parton's closet.

Chenoweth walked the red carpet in a form-fitting gown covered in silver sequins. It had a mock neck, long sleeves, and a floor-length skirt.

The dress resembled many of the sequined looks Parton wore throughout her career.

Chenoweth paired it with delicate diamond earrings and multiple rings.

Carrie Underwood chose a princess gown with subtle butterfly details.

Her white, strapless gown had a full skirt, a tulle overlay, and all-over butterfly appliqués in shades of pink. Underwood also wore long diamond earrings and her hair styled in waves.

It was the right choice to wear both on the carpet and onstage, where Underwood performed "I Will Always Love You."

Katy Perry nodded to another of Parton's favorite fashion elements: animal print.

Perry wore a vintage Roberto Cavalli gown from 2004 for the celebration. It was sleeveless with a deep neckline and a flowing skirt, and also decorated with multiple animal prints.

The dress was a daring and unique choice for the event, standing out from the sparkling white ensembles that most other celebrities wore.

And because Parton wore animal print on numerous occasions, it was a fun tribute to the more daring side of her style.

Ella Langley chose a minidress with a butterfly appliqué.

Langely, the country star behind the hit "Choosin' Texas," wore a pale-pink minidress with long sleeves and a plunging neckline.

It was embellished with strings of beads and crystals, and a pink, bedazzled butterfly at the center of her chest.

Langley was pretty and glowing on the red carpet — just like Parton always was.

Hillary Scott of Lady A fame wore two of Parton's favorite things.

Scott wore a sleeveless gown with a sweetheart neckline and a thigh-high slit. While that might sound simple, the dress also featured an all-over leopard print crafted from sequins.

Together, the features created a dress that reflected Parton's boldest style moments.

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Amanda Krause

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Amanda Krause is a Senior Reporter at Business Insider covering a variety of lifestyle topics.Her work at BI includes profiles of beauty moguls, analyses of celebrity fashion, reviews of trending products, expert interviews across topics, features about booming small businesses and lucrative side hustles, and live coverage of award shows, pageants, and other events. Amanda has also widely covered Disney brands and theme parks, writing everything from slideshows about her experiences on Disney cruises to breaking-news stories focused on major changes and layoffs within the company. She previously appeared on CBS in 2024 to discuss the Met Gala and won an Anthem Award in 2023 for her work on Business Insider's package "Better Me."Amanda graduated from Ramapo College of New Jersey with a degree in Communications and Journalism, and has more than seven years of experience in the lifestyle space.You can email her at [email protected], celebrity style, beauty, lifestyle trends, and Disney theme parks.

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