While many artists have left their mark on country music over the decades, few compare to the iconic Willie Nelson. With each new generation of country singers, artists praise Nelson for helping inspire them to pick up a guitar and share their story with the world. And one of those people is none other than Chris Stapleton. Having praised Nelson over the years, Stapleton also received the chance to perform alongside the country great several times. But recently, Stapleton surprised fans when he welcomed Nelson to the stage at Austin City Limits.
Back in 2023, Nelson celebrated his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with a few performances. And one of those was with Stapleton. The singers combined forces to sing “Whiskey River.” And on Friday night, they once again decided to cover the hit song. But that wasn’t all as the stars also entertained fans with a performance of “Bloody Mary Morning.”
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Not only a legend in country music, but Nelson also helped put Austin City Limits on the map. Always willing to help propel country music into the spotlight, Austin City Limits executive producer Terry Lickona insisted, “There would be no Austin City Limits without Willie Nelson. Simple as that. He launched ACL into the television universe in 1974, and has helped keep us going for 50 years.”
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Willie Nelson Is A “Force Of Nature”
Thankfully, the video for their collaboration made its way online as fans couldn’t get enough of Stapleton and Nelson. Outside of concert, Nelson also gained a great deal of praise from Ray Benson, the frontman for Asleep at the Wheel. The musician joked about how he and Nelson continue to perform. “I met Willie in 1971. The odds of either one of us being still alive at this point in time would have been pretty low back in ‘71, to be here and be productive. Willie is still singing, playing (and) writing songs. He’s a force of nature.”
Considering him an icon in country music, Benson insisted, “I’ve always known that Willie Nelson was one of the greatest artists Texas ever produced, in terms of his work (including music), television, movies and more, and his impact on society (like) Farm Aid (and) the hundreds of charities that he’s worked with. It’s so satisfying to still be around, say ‘Howdy’ and get to play some music with him.”
(Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame )