Country music star Cliona Hagan plans to visit Dollywood and Nashville for honeymoon

But due to the uncertainty around ­Covid, the glamorous couple say they will wait until after the wedding ceremony before booking their flights, as they were forced to cancel several holidays in the last two years.

The stunning singer - dubbed 'Ireland's answer to Dolly Parton' - will wed musician Simon Sheerin in May, following his surprise lakeside proposal in Co. Westmeath last Christmas.

Cliona and Simon, who is the drummer in her band, had been friends for several years before they became lovers.

Although she's a native of Ballinderry, Co Tyrone, Cliona says that their wedding will take place "south of the border". In an ­exclusive interview, Cliona also tells the Sunday World how she has co-designed her "dream wedding dress".

She says: "I'm getting my dress made with the wonderful Geraldine O'Meara from Birr, Co Offaly.

"I heard Geraldine is a fantastic designer, so I was so delighted to get the opportunity to work with her on my dress from scratch.

"She is just so spectacular at what she does. Honestly, she is making the dress of my dreams. I had so many ideas, but it's Geraldine who has been helping me bring them to life."

Cliona also tells how her fiancé Simon is planning his own striking outfit for their big day. "I'm marrying a stylish guy," she laughs.

Cliona, who was also a finalist in 2019's Dancing with the Stars, describes Westmeath man Simon as "a true romantic" and said she had no idea what he had planned when she went for a walk with him last Christmas.

"We went down to our favourite lake, Lough Ree in Co Westmeath, where we always have a nice walk," Cliona recalls

"Then I saw this beautiful arch and flowers, and a red carpet and candles by the shore. He had my favourite song playing, Shania Twain's You're Still The One, and he just got down on one knee and proposed.

"The two of us were crying and it was such a beautiful moment I could hardly even speak."

Looking forward to their May wedding, Cliona says she is keeping the location a secret for now. "We will be letting people know very, very shortly," she says. "It's only five months away, so we're getting really, really excited now."

She revealed: "Dollywood and Nashville would be our number one place to go on the honeymoon, and maybe somewhere tropical as well, but we won't be booking anything until the wedding.

"I think that's the only way forward nowadays with Covid because any holiday we've planned in the last two years has been put off and we've got a billion vouchers for flights."

Cliona is also looking forward to launching a new concert tour, The Dolly Songbook, in March, following the success of her current album of the same title.

"We have worked so hard behind the scenes on this show, so we're hoping that it can go ahead in March," she says. "It will be a proper show with all the Dolly Parton classic songs and lots of costumes and rhinestones and sparkles.