Honestly, it takes a specific kind of guts to cover a song that basically belongs to the two biggest vocal deities in history. You’ve got Dolly Parton, who wrote the thing as a tearful goodbye to her mentor Porter Wagoner, and then you’ve got Whitney Houston, who turned it into a vocal skyscraper that most singers are terrified to even look at.
But then there’s Kelly Clarkson.
When Kelly Clarkson singing I Will Always Love You became a reality at the 2022 ACM Awards, the internet didn't just react; it collectively held its breath. People expected a powerhouse moment, sure, but what they got was something much more intimate and, frankly, a bit unexpected. It wasn't just a cover. It was a request from Dolly herself, which adds a whole different layer of "don't mess this up" to the performance.
Why the 2022 ACM Performance Hit Different
Let’s be real for a second. Most people who tackle this song go for the Whitney "Big Note"—you know the one. They wait for the drum crack and then try to blow the roof off the building.
Kelly didn't do that.
Instead of a carbon copy of the Bodyguard soundtrack, she leaned into a arrangement that felt like a bridge between Dolly’s 1974 original and Whitney’s 1992 epic. She stood center stage at Allegiant Stadium in a simple, elegant black gown. No backup dancers. No pyrotechnics. Just a pianist, a guitarist, and that voice.
The control was insane. Most singers use the "breaks" in their voice as a flaw to be hidden, but Kelly uses them like an instrument. She kept it tender, almost conversational, before building into that signature belt that made us all fall in love with her during American Idol season one.
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Dolly Parton’s "Snot and Tears" Reaction
Dolly was actually hosting the ACMs that night, so she was literally right there. Can you imagine? Singing "I Will Always Love You" while the woman who wrote it is standing in the wings?
Dolly’s reaction was classic Dolly. She came out afterward and told the crowd she was "slinging snot in every direction" backstage because she was crying so hard. She even said that Whitney Houston was "smiling down" on them. That’s about as high as praise gets in the music industry.
It’s actually a funny bit of trivia that Dolly didn't even hear Whitney's version until she was driving and almost crashed her car because she was so overwhelmed by the sound. She seems to have that same physical reaction to Kelly's voice.
The 2025 Vegas Residency Surprise
If you thought the ACMs were a one-off, you’d be wrong. Fast forward to July 2025. Kelly is in the middle of her Studio Sessions residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
During the opening weekend, she dropped it into the setlist again. Why? Because Dolly asked her to. Again.
Basically, Dolly Parton has a standing order for Kelly to sing this song whenever possible. This time around, the vibe was even more personal. Kelly had these photos of her heroes—Bonnie Raitt, Reba, Steven Tyler—projected behind her. It felt less like a televised "moment" and more like you were sitting in a living room with her.
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One thing people often miss about the Vegas version is the ending. She did this soft, lingering "you" at the very end that left the entire room silent for a good three seconds before anyone dared to clap. It’s rare to see a Vegas crowd that quiet.
Comparing the Three Versions: Dolly vs. Whitney vs. Kelly
It’s not a competition, but we all know humans love to compare things.
- Dolly Parton (1974): Pure heartache. It’s a country folk song about professional boundaries and deep respect. It’s soft, vibrato-heavy, and fragile.
- Whitney Houston (1992): The vocal Olympics. It’s about the "I" and the "Always." It’s a monumental declaration of love that defined a decade.
- Kelly Clarkson (2022/2025): The storyteller’s version. Kelly brings a certain "Texas grit" to the high notes but keeps the "Dolly sweetness" in the verses.
Kinda cool fact: Dolly actually reached out to Kelly to record a new version of "9 to 5" for the Still Working 9 to 5 documentary around the same time as the ACMs. These two have a genuine mutual admiration society going on.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Song
A lot of folks think "I Will Always Love You" is a breakup song in the "I hate you" sense. It’s not. It was never meant to be.
Dolly wrote it when she was leaving The Porter Wagoner Show. She loved Porter, but she had to go solo to survive as an artist. When Kelly sings it, you can hear that nuance—it’s about leaving someone you still care for because it’s the right thing to do.
Some critics on places like Reddit have argued that Kelly’s version is "shaky," but if you listen closely, those aren't shakes. They're intentional vocal flips. It's a technique called yodelling or a glottal stroke, which is very common in country and soul music. It adds an emotional weight that a "perfect" digital-sounding note just can't touch.
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Why This Performance Still Matters in 2026
Even now, years after that first ACM tribute, clips of Kelly singing this continue to go viral. Why? Because it’s authentic.
In an era where every vocal can be pitch-corrected to death, hearing a singer actually feel a song in real-time is a rare commodity. Kelly has this way of making a stadium feel like a dive bar.
She also hasn't overplayed it. You won't find this on a studio album (yet). It remains a "special occasion" song, which keeps the magic alive.
If you’re planning to catch her 2026 residency dates—like the rescheduled shows happening in July and August at Caesars—keep your ears open during the encore. She doesn't do it every night, but when she does, it’s the kind of thing you remember for the rest of your life.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you want to experience the best of this performance, don't just watch the 30-second TikTok clips. Go find the full 2022 ACM Awards broadcast version. The audio mix is better than the cell phone videos from Vegas, and you can see the look on Dolly’s face when she walks out afterward.
Also, if you're a singer trying to learn this: don't try to be Whitney. Try to be Kelly. Focus on the breath and the "breaks" in the voice. That’s where the soul lives.
Check the 2026 schedule for Studio Sessions if you want to see it live. She’s got a string of dates in July—the 17th, 18th, 24th, 25th, and 31st—plus a few in August. Just be prepared to pay a premium for those Colosseum seats; they aren't getting any cheaper.