Fans are questioning Miley Cyrus’ absence from the CMA’s Dolly Parton tribute special, with many saying they were disappointed not to see the country legend’s goddaughter perform Jolene, one of Parton’s most iconic songs.

The special aired live on October 21, celebrating Parton’s life, music and lasting influence. Several artists took the stage to honor the country legend, including Ella Langley, who performed Jolene. While some viewers praised the tribute, others felt Cyrus would have been the perfect choice for the song because of her close relationship with Parton and her history of performing it.

Cyrus first attracted widespread attention for her version of Jolene in 2012, when she recorded a backyard performance with her bandmates for a YouTube series. The video has since surpassed 581 million views, showing how much audiences continue to love her interpretation.

Fans have also seen Cyrus perform the song alongside Parton and a cappella group Pentatonix on The Voice. Their performance offered a special moment between the godmother and goddaughter, making Cyrus’ absence from the latest tribute even more noticeable to some viewers.

Just days before the CMA special, Cyrus performed Jolene during her October 16 concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. While talking about the only time she had seen Parton perform live, Cyrus became emotional and sang the song in an especially moving tribute to her godmother.

After the CMA special aired, fans took to the comments to share their disappointment and question why Cyrus had not been included.

“Miley definitely should have sang Jolene,” one commenter wrote.

Another fan shared the same opinion, saying, “I think Miley should have sang Jolene.”

Others were surprised that Cyrus did not appear. “I was a little surprised. I thought for sure Miley would sing Jolene,” one viewer commented.

However, not everyone believed her absence was a bad thing. Some fans suggested that honoring Parton so soon after her passing might have been too emotional for Cyrus.

“Miley may have been grieving so much that a performance like that would have been impossible,” one person wrote.

Another commenter offered a similar thought: “Or maybe she is still grieving and needs some time.”

Scheduling was another possibility raised by fans, with some pointing out that Cyrus had recently performed at the Hollywood Bowl and suggesting she might have been busy with other commitments. However, no official explanation for her absence was provided.

While many viewers wanted to see Cyrus sing Jolene, others defended Langley’s performance while explaining why they would have preferred Cyrus. One commenter wrote, “I definitely think Miley should have sung Jolene. That being said, I like Ella Langley, but Jolene was just a bad song choice for her.”

Other fans had different ideas about the tribute’s song choices. One viewer suggested that Reba McEntire should have performed Jolene, while Vince Gill and Patty Loveless would have been a better fit for I Will Always Love You.

The discussion also touched on Carrie Underwood’s performance of I Will Always Love You, with some fans expressing disappointment over the song choices while still praising Underwood’s vocals. Zac Brown’s tribute also received attention, with one viewer describing his performance as so moving that it felt as though Parton were still there.

Despite the debate, many fans agreed that Cyrus’ connection to Parton would have made her performance of Jolene especially meaningful. Her emotional rendition at the Hollywood Bowl had already reminded audiences of the deep bond between the two singers.

Although Cyrus’ absence remains unexplained, fans can still revisit her earlier performances of Jolene. For those who hoped to see Parton’s goddaughter honor her on the CMA stage, however, the opportunity to hear her sing the beloved classic during the tribute remains a missed moment.