While hosting the Academy of Country Music Awards last night (March 7), Dolly Parton stood in solitude with the people of Ukraine while they continue to face an ongoing attack from Russian forces.

The famed country artist began the night with: “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."

“Let’s dedicate this whole show to them and pray for peace around this crazy world.”

Our GLOBAL SUPERSTAR is in the house! @DollyParton took a break from her "Run, Rose, Run" release to host the #ACMawards and we're beyond excited! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/TpQ6v91yZ8

— ACM Awards (@ACMawards) March 8, 2022

Parton joins the ever-growing list of celebrities making statements in support of Ukraine including a host of Irish musicians like folk outfit Cruachan and post-rockers God Is An Astronaut.

Torsten Kinsella from the latter group spoke about his experience touring extensively in both Russia and Ukraine.

"We have always been honoured and excited to play our music in both Russia and Ukraine," says Kinsella. "We have always been welcomed onstage and off in both these very appreciative lands. We played the exact same programme in all our European venues on a particular tour."

"If music can indeed heal then let us all hope that it will. Plato said, 'Music is seen as a means of restoring the soul, to the harmonic proportions that it shares with the world soul of the cosmos.' I strongly believe in what we have been trying to do for the past 20 years. In that time I’ve met and discussed the role of music in conflict in our own land and our own past troubles."

"I have never doubted music’s part in healing wounds in all cultures, but realise that it comes way down the list, especially when it comes to life or death urgency."

Revisit a classic Hot Press interview with Dolly Parton from 2014 where Edwin McFee donned his best cowboy hat to discuss town tramps, doggie adoptions, dance albums, mimings and lots more with the music icon, here.