The legendary singer moved the spotlight away from the ceremony’s Las Vegas home and placed it squarely on the plight of fleeing Ukrainian citizens and their stricken country. 

Appearing on The One Show after hosting the annual event, Parton, 76, admitted the least she could do was acknowledge the ongoing crisis after watching powerlessly as Russian troops force their way across the eastern European country.

Speaking out: Dolly Parton insists it was necessary to highlight the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine while presenting the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards on Monday evening

She explained: ‘Well, I felt that it was not only important but urgent to do it because there’s so much grief and so much sorrow.

‘I just can’t help feeling like that’s just home, and I feel for those people like they’re my own people, and I just feel like we have to say or do something, whatever we can.’

She added: ‘I felt like I couldn’t enjoy myself without at least acknowledging them. With us having fun and having the freedom to do that, I just felt that it was necessary to take a minute to acknowledge and pay respect to them and what they’re going through.’

Getting involved: The singer moved the spotlight away from the ceremony’s Las Vegas home and placed it squarely on the plight of fleeing Ukrainian citizens and their stricken country

Let’s talk: Appearing on The One Show after hosting the annual event, Parton, 76, admitted the least she could do was acknowledge the ongoing crisis

Parton wowed in no less than four striking ensembles while hosting the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Yet rather than making the ceremony about herself, the singer dedicated her opening monologue to Ukraine, ad asked people to send their prayers to those affected by Russia’s invasion.

‘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 said.

Reaching out: ‘I felt that it was not only important but urgent to do it because there’s so much grief and so much sorrow,’ she explained

Devastation: Ukrainians are fleeing their home country as it comes under repeated attack from neighbouring Russia (pictured: Ukrainian refugees board a train bound for Krakow in Poland)

‘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?’

The singer had previously made a point not to express her political views, telling the Dolly Parton’s America podcast in 2019: ‘I don’t do politics, I have too many fans on both sides of the fence.

‘Of course, I have my opinion, but I learned years ago to keep my mouth shut about things.’

Saying her piece: ‘I felt like I couldn’t enjoy myself without at least acknowledging them.# thwe singer added

Gesture: Rather than making the ceremony about herself, the singer dedicated her opening monologue to Ukraine, ad asked people to send their prayers to those affected by the invasion