8 Best Moments From the Opening Night of Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Studio Sessions’ Las Vegas Residency

“I’m gonna preface [this] with no one should ever sing this song, but I got tricked one time,” Clarkson stated, eminent into the second-to-last track of the night time, a Kellyoke barricade of Dolly Parton’s “I’ll Always Love.”

Hypothesis has been top for weeks that Clarkson would do the track then she posted a photograph on Instagram of the Caesars Palace marquee — appearing her shared billing with Parton, who will debut her residency on the theater Dec. 4 — and commented, “I ​​think this is a sign I should cover a Dolly song at one of my shows… but which song?”

Parton clapped again with, “Hey Kelly, I think you should sing “I Will Always Love You” as a result of I believe you do some of the easiest variations of that track that I’ve ever heard… Whitney and I’d each be proud.”

Upcoming got here an extended soliloquy about Parton and the track. “She’s a beautiful human and she’s so sweet. Early in my career, she was kind, and that matters, especially for younger artists who are fearful of looking stupid.”

“[An awards show asked me] to sing this tribute to her. I said, ‘Absolutely.’ Then they’re like, ‘She picked, I Will Always Love You.’ I was like, ‘Have a good night.’ No singer in the world, on their best day, wants to sing ‘I Will Always Love You.’ I was terrified. She’s standing on the side stage. I was like, ‘Oh my God, that’s like the principal watching you do math on a chalkboard.’”

Clarkson additionally gave props to Whitney Houston. “You can tell by some of my runs. I’ve been taking a little run here, a little run there from her, because I grew up on her. These are two of my favorite musical influences and it’s such a beautiful song. We tried to do a marriage of both artists. We all know The Bodyguard. I’m from Texas, so the very first version I heard was Dolly.”