2026 brought many losses in the entertainment industry over the past couple of months. From Sam Neill to Catherine O’Hara, many beloved names have left for their heavenly abode. Amid the celebration, the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will pause to honour the industry figures lost over the past year. Here is everything you need to know about this year’s Emmy Awards in memoriam segment.
Reba McEntire to pay tribute to Dolly Parton at the Emmy 2026 in memoriam segment
This year’s in memoriam segment will mainly focus on Dolly Parton, the iconic country singer and actress who passed away last month after a brief battle with cancer. The Television Academy also shared that Grammy-winning singer Reba McEntire will pay special tribute at the in memoriam segment, singing one of Parton’s iconic songs to honour the legend and her contribution to the entertainment industry.In addition, the Emmys will feature a segment commemorating the 30th anniversary of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ with Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz, while remembering cast members who passed away earlier this year: Michelle Trachtenberg in February, Nicholas Brendon in March, and Anthony Head in June.
Noah Kahan will perform his version of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ during the in memoriam segment
The 29-year-old singer, who has been nominated for Grammys twice, will perform his rendition of Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ during the in memoriam segment of the award show. Executive producer Jesse Collins shared that Noah personally chose the song for the segment in conversation with Variety. He shared, “So it was really about coming up with an arrangement that does the song justice. He’s such a pure musician, and he’s worked really hard with our team to create something I think people are going to love.”
Celebrities being remembered at this year’s Emmys in memoriam segment
Many stars we lost are being honored at this year’s Emmy awards; this includes names like Rif Hutton, Bruce Wilson, Rajeev Malhotra, Tom Cherones, Mike Berlin, Nina Shipman, Bob Mackie, Peter Cullen, Tim Curry, Bunny Levine, Frank Beard, Michael Wright, and many others.The 2026 Emmys are being hosted by ‘Law and Order: SVU’ star Mariska Hargitay, along with many other stars joining in to announce the awards for the night.
