Jamie Lee Curtis Breaks Down Honoring "Beloved Meathead" Rob Reiner During Emmys In Memoriam

Rob Reiner, Dolly Parton, Catherine O'Hara and more stars were highlighted during the In Memoriam segment—which also featured a performance by Noah Kahan—at the 2026 Emmys on Sept. 14.

By Paige Catton Sep 15, 2026 3:15 AM
| Updated Sep 15, 2026 1:07 PM
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Watch: Jamie Lee Curtis Breaks Down Honoring "Beloved Meathead" Rob Reiner During Emmys In Memoriam

Jamie Lee Curtis is honoring the memory of those lost.

The 2026 Emmy Awards paid tribute to Dolly Parton, Catherine O'Hara and more late Hollywood legends who have died throughout the last year during the awards show’s In Memoriam segment in Los Angeles Sept. 14.

The emotional tribute—which featured Noah Kahan performing a heartfelt rendition of Paul Simon’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water”—ended with Curtis honoring Cheers' James Burrows and Rob Reiner, who, along with his wife Michele Singer Reiner, was killed at his Brentwood, Calif., home on Dec. 14.

"Last year we lost another cherished legend: our beloved meathead, Rob Reiner," Curtis shared onstage through tears. "Last week, Robbie won an Emmy for Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his beautiful work on The Bear."

And that win allowed Reiner to make Emmys history even after his death.

"He now holds the record of 48 years for the longest gap between acting Emmys, which was previously held by his father Carl Reiner at 37 years," she shared. "He was generous and kind, and funny as hell, and a friend to all. And we all miss Rob and Michele, and all those we lost this year." 

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Rob Reiner Posthumously Wins 2026 Emmy Award 9 Months After Death

Before the main Emmys ceremony—hosted by Mariska Hargitay—Reiner won a posthumous award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series at the Sept. 6 Creative Arts Emmy Awards for his performance as restaurant consultant Albert Schurr on season four of The Bear. (See the full list of winners, here.)

Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images

Presenter Wendi McLendon-Covey accepted the award on the late star’s behalf, telling the crowd—who gave Reiner a standing ovation—"We all wish he was here.”

The touching win marked Reiner’s first Emmy since 1978, when he picked up an Emmy for Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in All in the Family.

Monica Schipper/Getty Images

Along with Reiner, Parton was also honored at the 2026 Emmys, with Sally Field and Reba McEntire taking the stage to honor the country icon. 

"If there are truly angels on earth, then we just lost one: Dolly Parton," Field shared. "It was my great good fortune to have worked with Dolly in a film called Still Magnolias and, over the years, I never stopped loving her."

Parton—who won her first Emmy in 2021 for her work on Dolly Parton's Christmas On The Square Square—died on Aug. 25 at the age of 80 after a brief battle with cancer.

To see all of the stars who attended the 2026 Emmy Awards, keep reading…

Zendaya

in custom Prada and Mikimoto jewelry. 

Selena Gomez

in Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co. jewelry. 

Ayo Edebiri

in Chanel and Mikimoto jewelry. 

Mariska Hargitay

in Monse and Stuart Weitzman shoes.

Noah Wyle

in custom Brunello Cucinelli and Cartier watch. 

Nicole Kidman

in Chanel and OMEGA watch. 

Elle Fanning

in Ralph Lauren and Cartier jewelry. 

Dakota Fanning

in Carolina Herrera and Swarovski jewelry. 

Kristen Bell

in Alberta Ferretti. 

Shailene Woodley

in Balenciaga. 

Julia Garner

in Loewe and Marco Bicego jewelry.  

Florence Pugh

in Vivienne Westwood. 

Colman Domingo

in custom Valentino and OMEGA watch. 

Kaley Cuoco & Tom Pelphrey

in Christian Siriano (Cuoco) and Giorgio Armani (Pelphrey). 

Julianne Hough

in Antonio Grimaldi. 

Sarah Pidgeon

in Chanel. 

Michael Urie

in Christian Siriano and Azza Fahmy jewelry.

Allison Janney

in Pamella Roland and Sabyasachi. 

Emilia Clarke

in Prada. 

John Mulaney & Olivia Munn

in Brunello Cucinelli (Mulaney) and FFORME (Munn). 

Michelle Pfeiffer

in Saint Laurent. 

Oscar Isaac

in Celine. 

Jessica Williams

in Honor, Tyler Ellis bag, and Jessica McCormack jewelry.

Harrison Ford & Calista Flockhart

in custom Paul Smith (Ford) and Zuhair Murad (Flockhart). 

Sterling K. Brown

in Brunello Cucinelli. 

Ryan Michelle Bathe

in Lia Stublia and Martin Katz jewelry. 

Lisa Kudrow

in Celine. 

Paul Anthony Kelly

in Louis Vuitton and Vacheron Constantin watch. 

Sally Field

in Akris.

Chase Infiniti

in Louis Vuitton and Hearts on Fire jewelry. 

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