The new CBS special Ringo & Friends at The Ryman, which features performances from two star-studded concerts Ringo Starr played in January at the famous Nashville venue the Ryman Auditorium, premieres Monday, March 10. Starr has posted a video on his socials giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at rehearsals for the memorable shows.
As previously reported, the concerts celebrated the release of the legendary Beatles drummer’s new country album, Look Up, on which he collaborated with award-winning Americana producer and songwriter T Bone Burnett. The shows featured performances of selections from Look Up, as well as songs from Ringo’s earlier solo work and Beatles tunes.
Videos by American Songwriter
The video begins with footage of Starr and Burnett arriving at The Ryman to rehearse for the gigs. As Ringo explains in the clip, “I’m rehearsing with the band. [It’s] the first time we all met. They’re on the country record T Bone put together.”
He added, “[T Bone] did all the great sounds we’ve got here [in Nashville,] and I did the drums and the vocals in [Los Angeles]. It’s a really cool way to do this record. Now we’re here to promote it, and have a lot of fun.”
Footage of Guest Stars Rehearsing
The video then shows various guest artists preparing for the show, starting with Billy Strings, then Jack White.
A brief clip captures Sheryl Crow and Molly Tuttle practicing harmony vocals for a version of the 1964 Beatles tune “I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party.”
Next, husband-and-wife country-gospel duo The War and Treaty are shown rehearsing the 1970 Starr solo song “Without Her.”
Another clip features Tuttle and Billy Strings running through the 1965 Fab Four gem “What Goes On” and Ringo watches.
The video also captures White goofing around with Burnett and Starr.
The alt-rocker approaches a seated Burnett and gripes, jokingly, “T Bone, I quit. I don’t know how to tell you this. I can’t do this. I can’t work under these conditions. There’s no lobster. There’s no shrimp. There’s no steak. T Bone, there’s no steak!”
Burnett replies, “It’s on its way,” before White turns toward the camera and acts as if he didn’t realize he was being filmed.
“They got you now,” Starr comments to White as he walks away.
In the next scene, Sara Jarosz and Rodney Crowell are shown practicing the 1963 Buck Owens country hit “Act Naturally,” which Ringo and The Beatles famously covered in ’65.
The video then segues to a clip of Ringo singing his new song “Thankful” with Americana duo Larkin Poe. The studio version of the tune, which appears on Look Up, features Alison Krauss on guest vocals.
Another clip captures Mickey Guyton belting out the 1976 Ringo deep cut “You Don’t Know Me at All.”
Guest Musicians Thank Ringo
As the video nears its end, Starr is shown jokingly commenting to Billy Strings, “What would you do if I ran out of tunes? … You’d be paid already.”
Strings responds, “Somebody’d figure that out. He then thanks Ringo and the house band and says, “Hey, pleasure playing music with you guys.”
The War and Treaty’s Michael Trotter Jr. and Tuttle also are shown thanking the other musicians involved in the shows. Lastly, White is seen bracing Starr.
More About the Ringo & Friends at The Ryman Special
As previously reported, Ringo & Friends at The Ryman is a two-hour program premiering at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. The show also will be available for streaming at Paramount+.
In addition to the guest stars who appeared in the behind-the-scenes video, the special also features performances by Emmylou Harris, Jamey Johnson, and Brenda Lee.
Besides the concert performances, Ringo & Friends at The Ryman will feature Starr discussing how country music has influenced his life, as well as The Beatles’ music and his own solo work. Various guest artists also will be featured talking about the impact Ringo and The Beatles have had on their music.