Country stars Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard and Carrie Underwood will be feted with special prizes at the 2014 ACM Honors.

For The Good Times hitmaker Kristofferson will be one of four songwriters to receive the Academy of Country Music Poet's Award, alongside George Strait collaborator Dean Dillon and late stars Buck Owens and Cowboy Jack Clement, while his old pal Haggard will be presented with the Crystal Milestone Award in recognition of his lengthy career.

Underwood will pick up the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award, while veteran Ronnie Milsap and Toby Keith will be honoured with the Career Achievement Award, and Rascal Flatts will be celebrated for helping to establish and promote country music around the world.

The eighth annual ACM Honors will be handed out at a ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee on 9 September (14).