Kelly Clarkson pays tribute to Dolly Parton with a stunning rendition of "I Will Always Love You"
Key Takeaways:
- Clarkson performed "I Will Always Love You" brilliantly as a tribute to country music legend and award show host Dolly Parton.
- Following the emotional performance, Parton greeted Clarkson onstage, receiving a standing ovation from the audience.
Kelly Clarkson is handing over the reins to Dolly Parton!
Clarkson gave a brilliant performance of "I Will Always Love You" as a homage to country music legend as well as award show host Dolly Parton there at the 2022 ACM Awards on Monday.
The star stole the show by beginning the cover with soft notes before building up to the epic chorus of the iconic song, dressed in a long-sleeved, form-fitting black gown with silver earrings.
Following the emotional performance, Clarkson was welcomed onstage by Parton, who received a standing ovation from the audience.
As she walked off the stage, Clarkson said, "Give it up for Dolly Parton."
"I know Whitney is smiling down on us tonight," Parton stated of the late superstar Whitney Houston, whose cover of the song became one of the best-selling singles of all time.
Parton continued, "I was backstage attempting not to cry my false eyelashes off — spit in every direction and tears." "But, in any case, that was a fantastic job!"
"I love her so much," Clarkson, 39, said during an episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show last month when she first revealed she was paying tribute to Parton.
"One word: DOLLY," she captioned a short video on Instagram. "That's right, everyone! I'm thrilled to declare that I'll be paying tribute to the show's host, @DollyParton, at this year's @ACMawards! Don't miss the #ACMawards LIVE on @PrimeVideo on Monday, March 7."
Parton, 76, later added a red heart emoji to the post.
Brittney Spencer, Brothers Osborne, Carrie Underwood, Chris Young, Eric Church, Jason Aldean, Jordan Davis, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, as well as Mitchell Tenpenny were among the performers at the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards.
Parton and Kelsea Ballerini performed "Big Dreams and also Faded Jeans" from her upcoming album Run, Rose, Run, as well as co-hosts Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett also performed around each other.
Meanwhile, Maren Morris, Thomas Rhett, Kelsea Ballerini, Chris Stapleton, Walker Hayes, Parmalee, and Blanco Brown with Brooke Eden, Carly Pearce, and Ashley McBryde, as well as BRELAND, performed.