The 78th Emmy Awards' Most Unforgettable Moments: Reba McEntire's Moving Tribute, Jamie Lee Curtis in Tears, and More — Photos and Video

The 78th Emmys delivered a string of memorable moments, from Reba McEntire and Sally Field honoring Dolly Parton to emotional tributes and playful celebrity exchanges. Then, the ceremony took an unexpected turn with reactions that quickly became talking points.

The ceremony opened with a moment that brought the evening's celebratory mood into more emotional territory as Sally Field and Reba McEntire paid tribute to the late Dolly Parton.

Field, who worked with Parton in Steel Magnolias, spoke warmly about her longtime affection for the country icon. She remembered Parton as someone who was genuine, humble, supportive, and "blisteringly funny," while also highlighting her humanitarian work in Tennessee and beyond.

A Heartfelt Tribute Set the Tone

Field said, "If there are truly angels on earth, then we just lost one - Dolly Parton." She recalled how fortunate she felt to have worked with Parton and said that although the two lived far apart over the years, her love for Parton never stopped.

McEntire then took the tribute in another direction, using music to honor Parton's life and career. She performed "Appalachian Memories," a song whose lyrics look back on leaving home, struggling in unfamiliar surroundings, and holding onto memories of where one came from.

The performance carried an especially poignant feeling as McEntire sang about "my southern eyes" being teary while wondering how the old folks were back home. After finishing the song, McEntire kept her final message simple. "I love you, Dolly. So much," she said.

Then the Night Turned Deeply Personal

Another emotional moment arrived when Jamie Lee Curtis took the stage to honor Rob Reiner, who had recently won an Emmy for his guest performance on The Bear. Curtis noted that Reiner had made Emmy history with the gap between his acting wins, pointing out that his latest victory came 48 years after his previous acting Emmy.

"Last week, Robbie won an Emmy for guest actor in a comedy series for his beautiful work on 'The Bear.' And 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."

Curtis struggled to contain her emotions during the tribute, and viewers immediately noticed. One viewer said, "Jamie Lee Curtis barely holding it together but she did." Another viewer described the moment by saying, "Jamie Lee Curtis speech so emotional here #Emmys."

Not everyone reacted the same way. One commenter wrote, "jamie lee curtis [sic] … what a way to ruin this beautiful moment." Another viewer was even more blunt, saying, "go away, jamie lee curtis [sic]." The mixed reactions added another layer to an already emotional moment, but Curtis' visibly emotional delivery became one of the night's most striking images.

Michael J. Fox Gave the Room Another Emotional Jolt

The ceremony delivered another powerful scene when Michael J. Fox accepted an award from his wheelchair and used his speech to reflect on the people and experiences that shaped his life. The speech was emotional not only because of what Fox said, but because the room's reaction made the moment feel even bigger.

Fox began by thanking Juliana and recalling his friendship with her before turning to the Television Academy and the significance of the honor. He then spoke about Bob Hope, explaining that his parents had grown up during the Great Depression and come of age during World War II.

To Fox's family, he said, Hope represented much more than an entertainer. He remembered Hope's decades of support for soldiers and military families, including his decision to spend holidays visiting troops rather than simply celebrating at home. Fox said the lesson he took from Hope was straightforward:

"When it starts to get tough, you show up. You help."

He also reflected on his Parkinson's diagnosis and the decision he initially made to keep it private because he feared it could affect his work and relationships with audiences.

"Would they laugh if they knew I was sick?" Fox recalled wondering. Instead, he said, he was stunned by the support he received. That support eventually helped Fox see that accepting Parkinson's did not mean surrendering to it. He described his work advocating for patients, raising money and supporting research aimed at finding a cure.

Fox expressed gratitude to the staff, donors, researchers and patient community behind the Michael J. Fox Foundation before turning his attention to his family.

He thanked Tracy and their children, Skylar and Sam, for their sacrifices, patience and love, as well as his parents, siblings and extended family.

Taylor Swift Was at the Emmys – Sort Of

One of the ceremony's more playful surprises involved a celebrity who was actually somewhere else. Before the Emmys, the question of whether Taylor Swift would attend became the subject of a playful Law & Order: Special Victims Unit sketch featuring Mariska Hargitay.

The sketch treated Swift's possible appearance like a full-blown investigation, with the characters attempting to connect seemingly unrelated clues to determine whether she would show up.

The investigation spiraled through Emmy nominations, Swift's famous number 13, Travis Kelce, Kansas City, television shows, and even Swift's cat Olivia Benson, named after Hargitay's Law & Order: SVU character.

Eventually, the sketch reached its conclusion: Swift would not be attending the ceremony in person. The reason was simple. Her husband, Kelce, had a work commitment with the Kansas City Chiefs.

But the sketch had one final trick. Rather than appear at the ceremony in person, Swift appeared in a pre-recorded segment with Hargitay, meaning the audience still got an unexpected glimpse of the superstar.

The image shows the pre-recorded appearance playing on a large screen above the Emmy audience, with Hargitay and Swift standing together and a white cat positioned between them.

Marcello Hernández Turned the Audience Into Part of the Joke

The ceremony then shifted back toward comedy when Marcello Hernández used his time onstage to address several major stars in the audience. Hernández took the opportunity to say hello and invite Harrison Ford, Zendaya, Tom Holland, Oscar Isaac and Matthew McConaughey to dinner with him.

His comments prompted an especially entertaining reaction from Zendaya who wore a sheer, crystal-embellished gown with sparkling straps and drop earrings.

But while Zendaya was the person Hernández was directly addressing, Ford's reaction in the background quickly became a moment of its own. One viewer joked, "I'd be casually hitting on Tom Holland and Zendaya right in the middle of the Emmys ceremony."

Another viewer said, "Harrison Ford was all seriousness, but you can see him laughing in the back when Marcelo is talking to Zendaya." A third commenter declared, "harrison ford [sic] having the time of his life in the back."

Not everyone thought Ford looked entertained, however. One viewer argued, "Harrison Ford was NOT in the mood for Marcello." The contrasting interpretations were part of the fun: Ford barely had to say anything for viewers to start debating his expression.

Mariska Hargitay's Singing Became Another Talking Point

Hargitay was not finished making herself part of the night's biggest moments. The Law & Order: SVU star also appeared alongside Andrew Rannells to say goodbye to shows ending in 2026, giving the ceremony a musical moment.

Hargitay also sang during the show's opening. The performance quickly divided viewers. One commenter said, "Mariska Hargitay, lets not sing again… ever thanks#Emmys." Another wrote, "mariska hargitay i love you but please stop singing [sic]."

But there were also viewers who genuinely enjoyed it. From the video of the actress singing during the opening, one fan said, "Mariska is good at singing. I love it so much!"

Another praised her by saying, "Mariska nailed the opening sketch of this year's Emmys!" A more conflicted viewer wrote, "I love Mariska, and I'm glad she had her chance to host, but this opening was uncomfortable to watch."

Another viewer admitted, "Why did they make Mariska sing [sic]. I am still cringing." One final commenter summed up the reaction by saying, "mariska i love you please don't sing again [sic]."

It was one of those rare Emmy moments where the audience seemed almost as interested in debating the performance as watching it.

Nicole Kidman Was Not Letting Hargitay Steal Her Line

Hargitay's hosting duties also produced an unexpected exchange with Nicole Kidman. During the monologue, Hargitay began talking about why people turn to television, saying, "We come to TV for magic, to laugh, to cry, to care, dazzling images on the silver screen, sound that I can feel."

Kidman immediately interrupted. "No, Mariska, come on. That's mine. That's my bit. You can't do that." Hargitay continued, saying, "No, no, Nicole, I'm not [...] Somehow, heartbreak feels good. In a place like this."

Kidman interrupted again, insisting, "No, no, no, come on. That's my line. That is actually my line."

The playful argument continued in a moment that made the audience part of the joke. A three-panel image captured the exchange, with Hargitay smiling onstage, Kidman reacting from the audience and Hargitay extending a hand toward her in mock protest.

Hargitay's punchline was, "Zip it, movie lady! It's TV's turn tonight!" It was exactly the kind of celebrity-to-celebrity banter that can turn a scripted awards-show segment into a memorable moment.

Macaulay Culkin Brought the Night Back to Tears

"Catherine O'Hara. Remember her as the forgetful mother, right? But we'll never forget about her." Culkin said there were many words he could use to describe O'Hara, but the one that mattered most to him was "mama."

He explained that she was his mom, their mama and, by extension, everyone's mama. He then offered the audience a simple piece of advice. "By the way, call your mother tonight. For real."

Culkin recalled that O'Hara always showed up when he asked her to, before delivering one final bittersweet joke. "So, uh, she may have forgotten me. Twice. But we will always remember her." The tribute managed to combine affection, humor and grief without losing the warmth that made O'Hara's role in Home Alone so beloved.

A Golden Arrival Was Impossible to Miss

And away from the emotional speeches and unexpected audience reactions, the red carpet had its own unforgettable scene. Meg Stalter arrived looking less like someone attending the Emmys and more like the Emmy statuette had come to life.

Stalter's head-to-toe gold look was designed around the familiar Emmy aesthetic, complete with an elaborate silhouette that immediately drew attention.

One photograph shows Stalter posing in a dramatic gold ensemble, with elaborate wings behind her and an oversized Emmy figure raised above her head against an Emmy- and NBC-branded backdrop.

In another image, Stalter stands against a gold-and-blue Emmy Awards backdrop, showing off the metallic outfit, sculpted wings, elaborate curled hairstyle, and golden body makeup.

The look was so literal that there was really only one conclusion: Stalter had decided to dress like the award itself. Later, at the HBO Max afterparty, she posed beside Jean Smart, creating an entirely different version of the look.

Stalter's gold-painted appearance contrasted sharply with Smart's shimmering silver jacket as the two posed together. Stalter wrapped one arm around Smart while placing her other hand across Smart's chest for the playful portrait.

From deeply emotional tributes to celebrity banter, divided reactions and one very literal Emmy-inspired fashion statement, the 78th Emmy Awards had plenty of moments viewers were unlikely to forget anytime soon.