Nashville Pays Tribute To Merle Haggard With 'Sing Me Back Home' Concert

'Sing Me Back Home'

During the course of several hours and 31 songs, the NASHVILLE music community, along with special guests, paid a fitting and entertaining tribute to Country icon MERLE HAGGARD at last NIGHT’s  (4/6) "SING ME BACK HOME: THE MUSIC OF MERLE HAGGARD" concert at MUSIC CITY’s BRIDGESTONE ARENA. The show took place on what would have been HAGGARD’s 80th birthday and one year to the day of his passing (4/6/16). Getting one’s arms around HAGGARD’s prolific and diverse catalog is a daunting task, which is why 32 artists spanning multiple genres were mobilized for the effort. The lineup included TOBY KEITH, KENNY CHESNEY, MIRANDA LAMBERT, KEITH RICHARDS, THE AVETT BROTHERS, LUCINDA WILLIAMS, JOHN MELLENCAMP, BUDDY MILLER, SHERYL CROW, and many others, who covered HAGGARD songs dating back to 1963.

The evening started with HAGGARD’s son, BEN, backed by the elder HAGGARD’s longtime band, THE STRANGERS, for “What Am I Gonna Do With Rest Of My Life.” Soon, TOBY KEITH was onstage, singing “CAROLYN” and "Daddy FRANK,” from the early 70s. LAMBERT perfectly delivered “Misery And Gin,” with HANK WILLIAMS JR. and LORETTA LYNN closing out the first half performing “Think I’ll Just Stay Here And Drink” and “Today I Started Loving You Again,” respectively.

Vintage video footage on the big screens provided a look back at HAGGARD’s many TV appearances, including a talent for imitating MARTY ROBBINS, BUCK OWENS, and JOHNNY CASH. The second half of the show featured LYNYRD SKYNYRD blazing through “Honky Tonk Night Time Man,” and ZZ TOP’s BILLY GIBBONS teaming with WARREN HAYNES of the ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND for a bluesy, then scorching version of “Workin’ Man Blues” that had the crowd on its feet. KEITH RICHARDS and WILLIE NELSON paired for “Reasons To Quit,” providing a once-in-a-lifetime moment where two legendary music icons from completely different genres occupied the same stage at the same time. TOBY KEITH joined WILLIE for “Ramblin’ Fever” before the entire lineup gathered onstage for an ensemble edition of “Okie From MUSKOGEE.”

The entire event was filmed and recorded for multi-platform distribution throughout traditional media -- worldwide broadcast, music, and digital. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the T.J. MARTELL FOUNDATION.

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