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

Willie Nelson Celebrated in a Star-Studded Tribute Show

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.

With performances from George Strait,  Kris Kristofferson, Emmylou Harris and Willie Nelson himself, Willie: Life & Songs of an American Outlaw proved to be an amazing affair.

https://www.facebook.com/WillieNelson/photos/a.10155311772723453/10155311772908453/?type=3&theater
via Willie Nelson’s Official Facebook Page

Country stars flocked together in celebration of the life and legacy of Nelson in a taped concert for television. Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena was the venue of the concert last Saturday, the 12th of January.

The tribute show opened with Chris Stapleton and his hit song “Whiskey River.” The version was soulful and powerful, definitely a welcome rendition from an already classic song. 

Other performers that honored the American Outlaw include Margo Price, Sturgill Simpson, Jimmy Buffet, Jason Isbell, and Eric Church. They performed songs by or popularized by the 85-year-old sensation.

Friends of Nelson also flocked the stage to be a part of the celebration. Stars like Ray Benson, Lyle Lovett, and Bobby Bare all shared stories of Nelson’s character, friendship, and genuine nature before praising his music.

His On-Stage Performance

Nelson didn’t get on stage until just before the intermission. He watched the amazing performances of “Georgia on My Mind,” “Sister’s Coming Home” “Time of the Preacher” and “Shotgun Willie.” 

https://www.facebook.com/WillieNelson/photos/a.131673688452/10155152034533453/?type=3&theater

via Willie Nelson’s Official Facebook Page

The performance that took the cake was probably the duet of “Sing One With Willie” by George Strait and Nelson himself. They never shared a stage, which made the duet all the more spectacular. The encores of the performance looked like it was unplanned and spontaneous, but it was amazing to watch nonetheless. Willie: Life & Songs Of An American Outlaw airs later this year on A&E.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lqft1LrFlg

Some of the songs that were performed by the outlaw:

“Crazy,” Dave Matthews
“Pancho and Lefty,” Emmylou Harris
“Me and Bobby McGee,” Kris Kristofferson, Eric Church
“The Harder They Come,” Jimmy Buffett
“Always on My Mind,” Chris Stapleton, Derek Trucks
“Song One With Willie,” George Strait
“On the Road Again/May the Circle Be Unbroken/I’ll Fly Away,” full cast
“Roll Me Up and Smoke Me,” full cast

 

Latest Stories

Cody Johnson performs at an outdoor concert in front of an American flag, shown here during a previous show, before he paused his Tailgate N Tallboys set to address anti-Trump protests and lead the crowd in a "God Bless America" sing-along.

Cody Johnson Blasts Anti-Trump Protests and His Crowd Responds With a “God Bless America” Sing-Along

Cody Johnson doesn’t tiptoe. He stomps. During his June 14 stop at the Tailgate N Tallboys festival in Bloomington, Illinois, CoJo grabbed the mic, hit pause on the hits, and ...

HARDY performing live onstage in the U.S., shown here during a past show, ahead of canceling the European leg of his Jim Bob World Tour to prioritize family and crew.

HARDY Cancels European Leg of Jim Bob World Tour Ahead of First-Ever Headlining Dates

The long-awaited European run for HARDY’s Jim Bob World Tour just hit the brakes, and fans across the pond are understandably bummed. On the morning of June 16, HARDY dropped ...

Billy Ray Cyrus stands on the red carpet in a black leather jacket and sunglasses, unintentionally becoming the center of family drama after Trace Cyrus called him out online.

Trace Cyrus Blasts Billy Ray for Skipping Grandma’s Funeral to Chase Fame and It’s About as Ugly as It Gets

When your son calls you “the l𝐚mest man to ever walk planet earth,” it’s safe to say things have gone past the point of no return. Trace Cyrus is not ...

Holly Dunn performs passionately under soft stage lights with her guitar in hand, capturing the emotion behind her heartfelt classic “Daddy’s Hands.”

Holly Dunn Wrote “Daddy’s Hands” for Her Dad and Somehow Spoke for an Entire Generation

This is the kind of song that makes grown men stare out the truck window in silence and pretend it’s just the pollen getting to them. When Holly Dunn wrote ...

Oliver Anthony belts out raw heartbreak in a dimly lit studio session, his face scrunched in pain, strumming a resonator guitar with the kind of fury only divorce can fuel.

Oliver Anthony Poured His Divorce Hell Into “Scornful Woman” and It’s Flat-Out Devastating

You can smell the smoke coming off this one before the first note even hits. Oliver Anthony isn’t one for PR gloss or neatly packaged pain. He’s raw, gravel-throated, and ...

Brad Paisley strums his guitar under a spotlight—looking like he’s about to sing the song that breaks every stepdad’s heart wide open. Not the original performance, but you can feel the same lump in your throat.

Brad Paisley’s “He Didn’t Have to Be” Is the Ultimate Tribute to Men Who Chose to Be Dad

It’s the kind of song that sneaks up on you, then hits like a freight train made of soft memories and old regrets. Before Brad Paisley was co-hosting the CMAs ...

John Foster beams under the spotlight, guitar in hand—looking every bit like the guy who just sold out Baton Rouge in under an hour. Not from that night, but you get the vibe.

John Foster Sold Out Baton Rouge Show in 52 Minutes and Night Two Is Already Locked In

The tickets were gone faster than a cold beer in a Louisiana summer. That’s how fast 1,350 seats disappeared for John Foster’s August 2 show at The Texas Club in ...

Lainey Wilson, George Strait, and Chris Stapleton are featured in a celebratory graphic as the Grammys announce a new Traditional Country Album category, finally recognizing the roots of real country music.

Traditional Country Just Got Its Own Grammy Category and That’s a Win We’ve Waited Decades For

You can almost hear a fiddle crying out in joy from a dusty honky-tonk in Texas. The Recording Academy just handed traditional country music the kind of validation it’s been ...

Lauren Alaina and husband Cam Arnold cradle their newborn daughter Beni Doll Arnold in a hospital room, sharing a joyful family moment just after her birth on June 11.

Lauren Alaina and Husband Cam Arnold Welcome Their First Child, a Beautiful Baby Girl

One minute, she’s singing about “Getting Good,” and the next, she’s holding a baby on her chest, a tear-stained guitar in the corner, and a song she never planned to ...

Zach Bryan performs live on stage in a previous concert, wearing a sleeveless shirt and ball cap, as he announces a surprise $50 Red Rocks show set for August.

Zach Bryan Drops Surprise Red Rocks Show With a $50 Ticket Cap and a Promise to Keep It Real

While everyone else is out here selling pit passes for the price of a mortgage payment, Zach Bryan just dropped a $50 Red Rocks show like it was nothing. On ...