Kelsea Ballerini rewears Shania Twain's 1999 Grammys gown: 'Sisterhood of the traveling dress'

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It's the sisterhood of the traveling dress!

Country music fans had déjà vu during Wednesday's 15th Annual Academy of Country Music Honors in Nashville, Tenn., when singer Kelsea Ballerini, 28, paid tribute to fellow country-pop superstar Shania Twain, 56, by rewearing the iconic white dress Twain wore to the 1999 Grammy Awards.

The sequined, long-sleeved turtleneck gown, designed by Marc Bouwer, had previously been on display at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. It holds a special place in Twain's heart, given that she wore it the night she won two Grammys for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song for the hit "You're Still the One."

Country music singer Shania Twain poses with the two Grammy Awards she won at  the Shrine Auditorium February 24 at  the 1999 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. [Twain won awards for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for
Shania Twain poses with the two Grammy Awards she won at the 1999 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, wearing the Marc Bouwer-designed dress. (Getty Images)

While on the red carpet for the ceremony, Twain told Entertainment Tonight that she was "blown away" seeing her famous dress reimagined.

"She looks stunning," the singer, who was honored with the Poet’s Award at the event, said of Ballerini. "She looks like an absolute angel. It’s very flattering to see her in the dress, and that she even wanted to wear it. I said, 'I hope it's not too dusty after being in the [Grammy Museum].'"

Twain said when she wore the dress herself back in 1999, "it was an incredible night for me at the Grammys."

"That dress represented that experience, so I'm just happy to see it alive again. Now it has a new life, and it has new memories, and it's really great to be able to share that with other people, with another women. Obviously it's a huge compliment to be admired enough that someone would want to step into my dress," she said.

Twain also took to her Instagram Stories to express her excitement, writing simply, "The dress!!" alongside a sweet photo of the duo on the red carpet.

Kelsea Ballerini and Shania Twain pose together on the ACM Honors carpet (Creedi: Shania Twain/Instagram)
Kelsea Ballerini and Shania Twain pose together on the ACM Honors carpet (Creedi: Shania Twain/Instagram)

The significance wasn't lost on Ballerini either, who shared intimate moments of herself admiring the look on her own Instagram Stories.

"Sisterhood of the traveling dress," she wrote alongside a photo of Twain in the look.

Kelsea Ballerini teases her outfit at the 15th Annual Academy of Country Music Honors in Nashville, Tennessee (Credit: Kelsea Ballerini/Instagram).
Kelsea Ballerini teases her outfit at the 15th Annual Academy of Country Music Honors in Nashville, Tennessee (Credit: Kelsea Ballerini/Instagram).
Kelsea Ballerini teases her outfit at the 15th Annual Academy of Country Music Honors in Nashville, Tennessee (Credit: Kelsea Ballerini/Instagram).
Kelsea Ballerini teases her outfit at the 15th Annual Academy of Country Music Honors in Nashville, Tennessee (Credit: Kelsea Ballerini/Instagram).

Ballerini explained to ET that the dress is only allowed to leave the museum for 48 hours, adding that she had a "back up" just in case the curators wouldn't let her take it out of the building.

"It's Shania's night! When I was asked to be a part of it, to honor her, we were just thinking about every possible way that we can highlight every stage of her career," Ballerini said. "One of the things that I think she's an icon because of is her fashion, and the way she's always pushing boundaries. I wanted to honor that part of her, too."

Added Ballerini: "To be able to honor her is one thing, but to be able to honor her and have her blessing... It's like, 'I like what you’re doing enough to let you wear my dress that I won my Grammys in.'"

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 24: Honoree, Shania Twain and Kelsea Ballerini attend the 15th Annual Academy of Country Music Honors at Ryman Auditorium on August 24, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for ACM)
Shania Twain and Kelsea Ballerini sharing a sweet moment together at the 15th Annual Academy of Country Music Honors. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for ACM)

As for its designer, Bouwer was on board, highlighting photos of Ballerini slipping into the dress ahead of the big night.

Designer Marc Bouwer shares a photo of Kelsea Ballerini in his creation (Credit: Marc Bouwer/Instagram).
Designer Marc Bouwer shares a photo of Kelsea Ballerini in his creation (Credit: Marc Bouwer/Instagram).

Talk about a fashion moment!

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