Kelly Clarkson Wins the ‘High Note Battle’ during Her Emotional Performance at the 2019 ACM Awards

Kelly Clarkson joined the big winners of this year’s American Country Music Awards, Dan + Shay, onstage to give an unforgettable first live performance of their collaborative single “Keeping Score.”

The ACM Awards were celebrated on April 7 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, where the biggest acts of the genre got together once again to recognize the achievements of the Country Music artists for this season.

Although not strictly a Country singer, 36-year-old Kelly Clarkson is no stranger to the yearly event. Just last year she performed alongside iconic Reba McEntire, who also served as the show’s host, like many times before.

On the 2019 edition of the awards show, Clarkson was nominated in the category of Music Event of the Year for her collaboration with Dan + Shay “Keeping Score,” and despite not winning in the end, they put on a show that will be remembered for years.

"Honestly, the surprising part is Dan + Shay and I have yet to perform this song anywhere. This is the first we’ve be able to actually be in the same state and perform this song. So this is kind of cool. This is the first time we get to do it."

-Kelly Clarkson, Entertainment Tonight, April 7, 2019.

The audience was left speechless by the “American Idol” winner, especially as she hit the higher notes in an amazing display of talent, proving that Dan + Shay made an excellent choice by featuring in their song.

Dan + Shay were the big winners of the night, also taking home the awards for Song of the Year and Single Record of the Year.

Within the first 90 minutes of the awards ceremony, the duo received three awards, which made host McEntire jokingly re-name the event “Dan + Shay’s Excellent Adventure.” Unfortunately for Clarkson, “Keeping Score” didn’t make it as Music Event of the Year, with the category won by Dierks Bentley and the Brothers Osborn for “Burning Man.”

The ACM Awards arrived at its 54th edition this year, with record-breaking McEntire fronting the ceremony for the 16th time.

Other performers appearing at the awards show included Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Christ Stapleton, Maren Morris, and Keith Urban, who was honored with the Entertainer of the Year award.

Other winners included Thomas Rhett (Male Artist of the Year), Kacey Musgraves (Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year), Chris Janson (Video of the Year, “Drunk Girl”), and Old Dominion (Group of the Year).