Kelly Clarkson paid tribute to Dolly Parton at this year’s Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards. 

The singer wowed with a performance of I Will Always Love You in honour of the country legend, who hosted the ceremony at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium. 

Dolly – who received a standing ovation from the packed crowd – said: “I know that Whitney is smiling down on us tonight, so thank you very much – she would be proud of that.

“I was backstage trying not to cry my false eyelashes off – slinging snot in every direction and tears. But anyway, that was an amazing job!”

During her hosting gig, Dolly dedicated the ceremony to the people of Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion of the country.

“I love to laugh, I love to joke, and we’re going to have a good time tonight, but I do want us before we get started with all our fun to take a serious moment,” she explained. 

“Now I don’t want to be political and this is not. I’d rather pass a kidney stone than do that, but I want us to send our love and hope to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.

“So why don’t we just dedicate this entire show to them and pray for peace around this crazy old world?”

Kelly is set to further honour Dolly with a new rendition of her classic hit 9 to 5, as part of the forthcoming documentary ‘Still Working 9 to 5’, which “examines the 40-year evolution of gender inequality and discrimination in the workplace”.