Talking about magnificent pairings, two country icons, George Strait and Willie Nelson, shared the stage at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, for a duet of “Good Hearted Woman” on January 12, 2019. Joined by household names in country music, including Alison Krauss, Vince Hill, Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow, Kris Kristofferson, John Mellencamp, and other luminary figures, the pair appeared on the tribute show titled Willie: Life & Songs of An American Outlaw to celebrate Shotgun Willie’s greatest hits. This was the first time they performed together despite being both acquainted with country music fame for decades.
Originally, Nelson co-wrote the song as the lead single to Waylon Jennings’ 1971 album Good Hearted Woman. Jennings’ solo recording of the song didn’t make the cut to the charts until he sang it as a duet with Nelson, and it peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Both in their black cowboy hats, the two simply enjoyed the moment of history. That evening, Strait wore a blue plaid flannel shirt and matching blue jeans. Before the performance, he said to Nelson, “Willie, let’s do one more song.” The crowd cheerfully roared as Strait plucked his black guitar. He gave Nelson a smirk and sang in his gravelly voice, “A long time forgotten are dreams that just fell by the way.”
Playing his brown acoustic guitar, Nelson responded with the second line, “And the good life he promised is not what she’s living today.” In his signature pigtails and all-black outfit, the singer was at ease the whole time he stood with a fellow legend. They exchanged glances, smiles, and lyrics that forever changed the trajectory of country music.
Until the last moment, they took the mic together to sing the remaining verses. At the end of their performance, they shook hands to show their comradery as country superstars. And the audience couldn’t help but love it. You just had to be there.
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This once-in-a-lifetime experience inspired country music lovers to appreciate and cherish the beauty of the cowboy sound. “One word: Wow, George and Willy. What else could you ask for? True Legends performing and rocking the stage,” a fan commented on YouTube.
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The same night, the pair also sang their first official duet, “Sing One with Willie.”
Watch as two legendary country singers, George Strait and Willie Nelson, reimagine the 1972 classic “Good Hearted Woman.”
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