Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesThe American Country Awards honored the great artists over the past year in country music on Tuesday, Dec. 10. But there was also one heartfelt performance, courtesy of LeAnn Rimes, remembering an icon in this genre, the great Patsy Cline.
The Grammy winner paid tribute to her idol, and it was a particularly poignant moment when she was so overcome with emotion that she broke down in tears.
After belting out a series of songs during the soulful set, which marked the 50th anniversary of Cline's death, the 31-year-old put her hands to her mouth and looked up at the ceiling.
"I love you Patsy, thank you," Rimes told the audience as she softly wept.
Rimes looked gorgeous for the occasion, donning a detailed pale pink gown with statement earrings and styling her blond locks in a low bun.
"I am humbled and still floating," she reflected on Twitter.
Cline and Rimes share a connection even though they never had the opportunity to meet: Rimes' hit tune "Blue" was written for Cline. However, Cline never had the opportunity to record the song due to her untimely death in a plane crash, at the age of 30 in 1963.
In addition to Rimes, Justin Moore, Randy Houser and Thomas Rhett were part of the lineup for the musical entertainment, in addition to Brad Paisley, Lady Antebellum, Florida Georgia Line and Jake Owen.
Florida Georgia Line were the big winners of the night, scoring six out of the seven awards they were nominated for, including New Artist of the Year and Single of the Year.
Blake Shelton snagged the award for Single by a Male Artist and the honor of Album of the Year, while American Idol winner Scotty McCreery walked away with this year's Breakthrough Artist award (and an awesome blue Fender guitar).