Keith Urban praised Dolly Parton as "fearless" and a "trailblazer" while chatting with PEOPLE during the 2026 Musicians Hall of Fame induction in Nashville
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Urban previously shared memories of meeting Parton, recalling how he grew up singing her songs as a child in Australia
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Parton, who did not attend the induction, sent a video message expressing gratitude for her induction and career recognition
Keith Urbanis givingDolly Partonher flowers.
The four-time Grammy winner —whose new album,Flow State, comes out June 12 — tells PEOPLE while on the red carpet as a part of the 2026 Musicians Hall of Fame induction in Nashville that he has nothing but respect for his co-inductee, Parton.
"She's just ... fearless and a trailblazer and just such a one-of-one," Urban, 58, says of the country music legend, 80. "And I think she continues to remind every artist that it's just about expression and following your creative path and being fearless in it."
Urbanadds, "She is a perfect prime example of always trying something different. I never think of her as pushing the envelope. I think about her not letting anything get in the way of the envelope."
Urban and Parton have a long history together, and when asked about their favorite memories together, he laughs and says, "Oh God, I've got a lot."
During a 2022 appearance onThe Ellen DeGeneres Show, the star told a story aboutthe first time he met Parton. "I come from working-class parents and a rural kind of background in Australia, and the first time I met Dolly — she's sung with me a few times — and the first time I met her it was surreal, because, I mean, I grew up singing her songs," Urban recalled at the time.
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"As a matter of fact, I sang her songs because I was 9 years old, and my voice hadn't broken yet, and I sounded like her — I could sing in her key," he joked.
Parton, in turn, has sang Urban's praises over the years. During a 2022Good Morning Americainterview, the icon was asked who she'd love to bake a cake and sing a duet with, to which she replied, "Probably any of the good-looking ones. I love Keith Urban."
"I've always thought that he was one of the most talented — and cutest — guys in the world," she continued at the time.
Urban and Parton were among a star-studded class of inductees at the 2026 edition of the Musicians Hall of Fame event. Other artists who were honored includedGeorge Thorogood & The Destroyers, John Boylan, Leland Sklar, Nicky Hopkins (posthumously) andFlow Statecollaborators Dann Huff and The Doobie Brothers' Michael McDonald McDonald.
Though Parton did not attend the 2026 Musicians Hall of Fame induction ceremony, she sent a video message that was played from the stage in which she passed along her gratitude for the acknowledgement of her legendary career.
"I am very humbled to be inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame," Parton said in her video, screened at the event. "You know, my songwriting is more important to me than anything. But, as much as I crafted lyrics in my mind, and then eventually started writing them down on paper, I realized early on, that if I was going to write songs, I needed to be able to play instruments to bring them to life!"
The "Jolene" creator continued, "I am thankful that my musicianship enables my music to be produced the way that I want it to be heard. I want to send a special thank you to Linda Chambers and to the Musicians Hall of Fame, to all of the incredible studio and touring musicians that I have been able to work with and to the fans who have listened to my music for all these years. So, I'll keep a-pickin', and you keep a-listenin', and I'll always love you."
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