Dolly Parton dedicates ACM awards to the people of Ukraine sending “love and hope” to the country

Virgin Radio

8 Mar 2022, 11:06

Dolly Parton has dedicated the 57th Academy of Country Music (AMC) awards to the people of Ukraine after opening the ceremony in Las Vegas last night.

The music icon asked viewers to send their “love and hope” to those caught up in the conflict after joking she would rather “pass a kidney stone” than get political.

The ACM Awards are heralded as the biggest night in country music, and it finally returned to the Allegiant Stadium Nevada this year after moving to various locations such as Nashville and Tennessee due to the pandemic.

As usual, the ceremony was packed with some of the biggest stars in country music and saw performances from Kelly Clarkson, Brothers Osbourne, Luke Bryan and Dolly Parton herself.

Before the winner announcements began, the Jolene singer asked the audience to “take a serious moment”.

Parton is famously known for avoiding conversations around politics but took this opportunity to show her compassion to the people caught up in the Russian invasion. 

She said: “Now I don’t want to be political and this is not. I’d rather pass a kidney stone than do that.

“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 let’s pray for peace around this crazy old world.”

The singer also received a tribute of her own during the awards when Kelly Clarkson took to the stage to perform a rendition of the song I Will Always Love You, which she dedicated to Parton, who famously recorded the song in 1973.

Among the winners at the awards was Tennessee Whiskey singer Chris Stapleton took home Male Artist of the Year, and Carley Pearce who won Best Female.

Album of the Year went to Morgan Wallen for Danger: The Double Album after the singer was removed from the ACM ballot last year when he was caught using a racial slur on camera.

The biggest award of the evening, Entertainer of the Year, went to Miranda Lambert, who accepted the award virtually from London.