Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Vince Gill and Paul Franklin Delivers a Great Performance of “A World Without Haggard” at the Opry

by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Vince Gill and Paul Franklin gave a stellar performance of “A World Without Haggard” at the Opry. Vince specifically wrote this track for the country legend we all know and love, Merle Haggard.

The song pays homage to the legacy that Merle left in the country music world. Vince included this song in his 2016 album Okie and made his debut performance at the Grand Ole Opry.

paul franklin, vince gill
via Screen grab from YouTube

Vince Gill and Paul Franklin at the Opry

Paul Franklin showed how steel guitar made country music so unique as compared to the other genres. Paul is a long-time steel-guitar player and it showed during their performance. Of course, Gill’s voice shined through the performance but the sound of the steel guitar is very prominent. It was clear that they wanted to showcase Paul Franklin’s part since steel guitar best represent traditional country music.

Paul has already toured with Vince Gill so it was no surprise that the two of them had chemistry on the stage. Franklin has had a few innovations with playing the steel guitar. He learned how to play it from his father and has then introduced two variations:  “swampy acoustic guitar” and “the baritone steel guitar.”

paul franklin, vince gill
via Vince Gill’s Official Twitter page

The Inspiration Behind the Song

Vince Gill has always shared that one of his country music inspiration is Merle Haggard. Gill says in an interview with Nashville’s News Channel 5:

“Merle Haggard was my No. 1 inspiration in my life. The way he led a band, the way he played, the way he sang, the way he wrote songs was the pinnacle in every level to me. Nobody equals Merle in my eyes. That was tough.”

The track laments the loss of the Merle Haggard and it showed through the lyrics. The singer just heard about the passing of his inspiration when he wrote the song. You can tell from the lyrics that Vince really has huge respect for Merle and that is so endearing.

Watch their performance here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9RkoFulGrk

For your daily dose of country music stories, check our Facebook page. 

Latest Stories

Brooks & Dunn performing on stage together, fitting their story about admitting they struggled to get along for years.

Brooks and Dunn Admit They Struggled to Get Along for Years and Tried to Blow It Real Hard

Country music’s greatest duo was basically a bar fight waiting to happen. When Brooks & Dunn stormed out of the gate with “Brand New Man” in 1991, it looked like ...

LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian smiling outdoors, not taken when she spoke about feeling hated after their affair scandal.

LeAnn Rimes Says So Many Women Hated Her After Affair With Eddie Cibrian and She Felt Like a Target

Ain’t every country ballad pretty, and LeAnn Rimes knows her verse is messy as hell. View this post on Instagram A post shared by leann rimes cibrian (@leannrimes) Back in ...

Jana Kramer with husband Allan Russell and her kids outdoors, not taken when she admitted she sometimes skips sunscreen.

Jana Kramer Admits She Skips Sunscreen Sometimes on Her Kids and Feels Fine About It

“Come at me.” That’s Jana Kramer’s whole vibe right now, and boy, they sure are. Turns out you don’t have to drop a scandalous album or torch an ex on ...

Kenny Rogers’ twin sons Justin and Jordan just turned 21 and fans say they look just like the late country music legend now.

Kenny Rogers’ Twin Sons Just Turned 21 and Fans Say They Look Just Like Him Now

A couple of chocolate cakes, two wide grins, and a whole lot of “They look just like their daddy”. That’s how Kenny Rogers’ twin sons rang in their milestone 21st ...

Waylon Jennings once called Garth Brooks the most insincere person he ever saw

Waylon Jennings Once Said Garth Brooks Was the Most Insincere Person He Ever Saw

Sometimes you need an old outlaw to call out what everyone else is too polite to say out loud. Back when Nashville was shape-shifting in the ’80s and ’90s, country ...

Josh Weathers raises over $337000 in a livestream concert fundraiser to help Texas families devastated by catastrophic floods.

Josh Weathers Raises Over $337000 in Livestream to Help Texas Families Hit by Floods

A guitar in hand and a heart the size of Texas. That’s Josh Weathers right now. While storms swallowed up gigs and highways across Central Texas, this Fort Worth native ...

Lauren Alaina fires back at trolls who mom-shame her for bottle-feeding her newborn, pictured holding baby Beni Doll Arnold.

Lauren Alaina Fires Back at Trolls Who Mom-Shame Her for Bottle-Feeding

A bottle in one hand and zero time for strangers’ opinions in the other. That’s how Lauren Alaina’s rolling and some loudmouths just found out the hard way. If you’ve ...

Kelly Clarkson seen emotional in a past photo, echoing fans’ heartbreak after she canceled her Vegas opening night due to illness.

Fans Are Heartbroken After Kelly Clarkson Cancels Vegas Opening Night Due to Illness

Nothing guts a diehard fan like standing in line for hours only to get hit with the words “Show’s off.” Kelly Clarkson found herself in that brutal spot last weekend ...

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton perform together on stage, teaming up for a new duet that might break country radio charts.

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton Team Up for a Duet That Might Break Country Radio

Sometimes, country music gives you a pairing that is so perfect that you wonder what the hell took so long. Well, here we are. Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton are ...

Dolly Parton smiles in a sparkling gown, proving she’ll always look glamorous on the outside to match how she feels inside.

Dolly Parton Shares Glamorous Photo Says She’ll Always Look How She Feels Inside

Some folks roll out of bed looking like they just survived a bar fight but not Dolly damn Parton. On July 1, the queen of country herself dropped a glamorous ...

Leave a Comment

For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.