The Grammy Award winner was set to be honoured alongside stars including Loretta Lynn and the late Townes Van Zandt at the ceremony in Austin, Texas, but he missed the event as he was hospitalised in the city just hours before the show kicked off.

ACL producer Terry Lickona tells Billboard.com, "Apparently, Guy had a bad reaction to some medication he was taking for a recent surgery."

The 73 year old spent the night in hospital.

Lyle Lovett, who sang one of Clark's songs during the show, accepted the award on the singer's behalf.