Her favourite song is Coat Of Many Colours.
And Dolly Parton actually wore one as she performed a once
in a lifetime duet with pop star Katy Perry at the Academy Of Country Music
Awards in Las Vegas on Sunday.
The pair was the star attraction on a night bluegrass
sensation Chris Stapleton walked away with a prestigious triple crown of the
most prestigious prizes on offer.
In a jokey introduction in which she told the crowd they had
'finally got me in a pair of boots,' and admitted she is 'but one tiny sequin
in a Dolly Parton gown,' Katy pointed out they both came from preacher families
and started singing in church.
And, making fun of their famously voluptuous physiques, the Roar
star said: 'We're known for some of the biggest... songs in our fields.'
Dolly, who was accepting a gong for her biographical film Dolly
Parton's Coat of Many Colors, praised the film's cast, including
adorable Alyvia Alyn Lind, the eight-year-old star who played a child
version of the I Will Always Love You singer.
She added: 'I hope you like my coat I had to do something to
overcome the leggy women I'm working with here.'
The dynamic duo then rattled their way
through a medley of the country legend's greatest songs, starting with Coat
Of Many Colours before they belted out Jolene.
They finished in style with a version of 9 To
5, the crossover hit that was the theme tune to the movie smash of the
same name.
And while many would have expected Katy, 31, to outshine the
veteran who is 39 years her senior, it was in fact Dolly whose voice held up
best in the live arena, underlining her status as one of the best in the
business.
Katy meanwhile at one point pulled out her in-ear monitor,
suggesting audio problems may have been a reason for her shaky
performance.
The ACM Awards is the show that is a home away from home for
Blake Shelton.
And while he was not filling his usual host role, The Voice
judge kicked off the event in fine style when he stole the mic from his
replacement Dierks Bentley to duet the opening number with Luke
Bryan.
He then belted out his own hit Came Here To Forget, before
introducing Dirks on stage.
As he wrapped his arms around the presenters he joked, 'Good
luck tonight boys. He's all yours, what a dumba**.'
Chris Stapleton was hoping to add a to his already packed
trophy cabinet after dominating his genre at the Grammys and the Country Music
Association Awards.
He got off to the perfect start when he won the Song Of The
Year prize for Nobody To Blame and the Album Of The Year prize on Sunday.
The bluegrass star was the show's leading nominee after
being put forward in seven categories, and the bearded beefcake was quick to
joke about being handed the prize by NFL star Von Miller.
He said: 'You've got to be kidding me. I thought we were
gonna get girl-crushed on this one.'
And he was even more overwhelmed when one of his heroes
announced he had netted the coveted Album Of The Year gong. Chris said:
'Unbelievable - Garth Brooks just gave me an award.'
When he won the Vocalist Of The Year prize his sense of
humour again came to the fore, as he said: 'I have to thank my wife... She
makes me sound better and look better than I would otherwise.'
The singer-songwriter's big win at the MGM Grand Garden
Arena in Las Vegas comes after he collected two Grammys in February and
three CMAs in November, where he won plaudits for a show-stopping
 |
| Dolly Parton and Katy Perry |
However he was shockingly snubbed for Entertainer Of The
Year, where reigning champ Luke Bryan battled Garth Brooks, Jason Aldean, Eric
Church and Miranda Lambert.
However it was Jason who finally broke his duck, and he told
the audience: 'I was starting to think this one just wasn't on the cards for
me,' before he thanked his wife and children.
Blake Shelton's ex-wife Miranda, who brought along her new
beau Anderson East to the show, was delighted to win the Female Vocalist Award,
beating off strong competition from Carrie Underwood.
She said: 'I love y'all. I just want to say I love Carrie -
she killed it. She is literally the perfect singer.'
Miranda also heaped praise on fellow nominees Kelsea
Ballerini, Jana Kramer and Kacey Musgraves, saying she felt excited about the
future for women in country.
Other winners included Eric Church, who netted Video Of The
Year and Thomas Rhett, who scooped the paperweight for Single Of The Year
for Die A Happy Man.
Meanwhile Little Big Town vocalist Kimberly Schlapman
garnered guffaws as they picked up the Vocal Group Of The Year gong when she
said: 'Thank you Chris Stapleton for not being in vocal group.'
Martina McBride and Darius Rucker asked the crowd to applaud
the singer, which let to the standing ovation, and round of applause. And the
late Joey Feek, of vocal duo Joey + Rory, was honored with a standing ovation
and round of applause.
Last month the 40-year-old died after a long battle with
cancer. She is survived by her husband Rory and their young daughter
Indiana.
Carrie Underwood, Sam Hunt, Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw
also hit the stage.
Meanwhile Miranda Lambert caused a stir when she performed
ZZ Top's Tush with the band's guitarist Billy Gibbons and Keith Urban.
Other notable turns included a raucous performance by Little
Big Town and Trombone Shorty, while Joe Jonas was a guest guitarist when Kelsea
Ballerini performed.
Katy said after rehearsals on Saturday that she and Dolly
have lot in common, like they both grew up singing gospel music.
'I don't come out for anyone, but when Dolly calls, probably
on her hot pink phone, I pick up,' Perry said. 'I have always wanted this to
happen, I've wanted it for years, so I guess I dreamed a big dream and now it's
being realized.'
Cam, who also performed, was the second most nominated act
with six thanks to her Grammy-nominated hit Burning House, but left
empty-handed.
Most of the time when Cam sings 'Burning House,' she
encourages fans to sing along by the end of the song. But she said Saturday
after her rehearsal she might approach the ACM audience a little different.
'I feel like I am going to be too nervous to look at
celebrity people in the eye and say, 'Sing along!'' Cam said. 'I am mostly
going to keep it in my corner this time, and if they want to, they can.'
Church is also nominated for six awards and will perform.
His surprise album, Mr. Misunderstood, was nominated for album of the year but
lost out to new star Chris Stapleton.
Academy Of Country Music Awards - Winners
Entertainer of the Year
Jason Aldean
Male Vocalist of the Year
Chris Stapleton
Female Vocalist of the Year
Miranda
Lambert
Vocal Duo of the Year
Florida Georgia Line
Vocal Group of the Year
Little Big Town
New Male Vocalist of the Year
Chris Stapleton
New Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year
Old Dominion
Album of the Year
Traveller - Chris Stapleton
Song of the Year
Nobody To Blame -
Chris Stapleton
Single Record of the Year
Die A Happy Man - Thomas Rhett
Video of the Year
Mr. Misunderstood -
Eric Church
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