Cynthia Erivo honors Dolly Parton with emotional rendition of 'I Will Always Love You' in viral clip

VANCOUVER, CANADA: Cynthia Erivo gave fans an emotional Dolly Parton moment during her Vancouver concert on Friday, August 29. She performed Parton's 'I Will Always Love You' with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and videos of the rendition quickly began making the rounds online.

The performance came just three days after the country legend's death at the age of 80. Erivo's song choice made the moment even more significant, as 'I Will Always Love You' was written and originally recorded by Parton herself.

Cynthia Erivo performs Dolly Parton's iconic song

Footage shared from the concert captured Erivo delivering the song live as the orchestra backed her.

The rendition was performed as a tribute to Parton, who died on Tuesday. Her death was confirmed by her family, with the country music legend remembered by artists and fans around the world in the days that followed.

The clips have since given fans a chance to hear Erivo take on one of Parton's most recognizable songs. Viewers also pointed out the connection between the song and the artist being honored: Parton wrote 'I Will Always Love You' herself.

Dolly Parton wrote and originally recorded 'I Will Always Love You'

Parton wrote 'I Will Always Love You' in 1973 and released her own recording as a single in 1974. The song reached No 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, becoming one of her signature recordings.

She later recorded the song again for the 1982 film 'The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'. That version also topped the country chart, giving her two No 1 country recordings of the same song.

But the song's biggest global moment came years later. Whitney Houston recorded 'I Will Always Love You' for the 1992 film 'The Bodyguard', turning it into a massive international hit. Parton remained the songwriter behind the composition.

Cynthia Erivo joins artists paying tribute to Dolly Parton

Erivo's performance is among several musical tributes to Parton following her death. Other artists have also turned to her songs on stage, including Vince Gill, who performed 'I Will Always Love You' during his concert in Kansas City on Thursday.

Harry Styles also led a crowd sing-along to 'I Will Always Love You' during his show at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, just one day after Parton's death. For Erivo, choosing the song Parton wrote herself made the Vancouver performance a particularly fitting tribute.

The combination of her vocals and the orchestra gave the classic a new live setting, while the videos circulating online have brought the emotional performance to fans beyond the concert.