The CMT Music Awards will celebrate Southern rock band LYNYRD SKYNYRD this weekend with an all-star tribute combining country music's biggest stars and some of the rock genre's most recognizable names.
Billy Gibbons, Chuck Leavell, Cody Johnson, Paul Rodgers, Slash and Warren Haynes are set to honor the band and original founding member Gary Rossington, who recently passed away. LeAnn Rimes and Wynonna Judd will join as "The Honkettes."
The tribute comes on the 50th anniversary of LYNYRD SKYNYRD's first album. Cody Johnson and Paul Rodgers will lead vocals with Billy Gibbons, Slash and Warren Haynes on electric guitar for pair of timeless LYNYRD SKYNYRD hits.
Dale Krantz Rossington, band member and wife of late guitarist Gary Rossington (pictured),will attend the performance alongside fellow LYNYRD SKYNYRD band members Johnny Van Zant and Rickey Medlocke.
Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown will host the 2023 CMT Music Awards, which will air live from Austin, Texas's Moody Center on Sunday, April 2 from 8:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 p.m. PT on the CBS television network.
Previously announced performances include Alanis Morissette with Ingrid Andress, Lainey Wilson, Madeline Edwards and Morgan Wade, Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Cody Johnson, Gwen Stefani with Carly Pearce, Jelly Roll, Kane Brown with Katelyn Brown, Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, THE BLACK CROWES and Darius Rucker, Tyler Hubbard and Wynonna Judd with Ashley McBryde. Avery Anna, Chapel Hart, Jackson Dean, Lily Rose, Megan Moroney and Nate Smith will perform from the Ram Trucks Side Stage.
Top nominees are Lainey Wilson with four nods and Johnson, co-host Kane Brown and first-time nominee Jelly Roll with three each. Shania Twain will receive the Equal Play Award.
Rossington was the last surviving founding member of LYNYRD SKYNYRD. On March 5, his bandmates announced the news of his death in a statement shared on their social media.
"It is with our deepest sympathy and sadness that we have to advise, that we lost our brother, friend, family member, songwriter and guitarist, Gary Rossington, today," they wrote.
"Gary is now with his SKYNYRD brothers and family in heaven and playing it pretty, like he always does," the group continued. "Please keep Dale, Mary, Annie and the entire Rossington family in your prayers and respect the family's privacy at this difficult time."
No cause of death was disclosed.
The guitarist had previously dealt with various heart problems throughout the years, including emergency heart surgery in 2021.
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
DVR is set! This is a can't miss.........
Warren on a red telecaster interesting. I guess Slash was the Les Paul guy tonight.
The Lynyrd Skynyrd set was good, but as I expected, way too short. They did Simple Man and Sweet Home Alabama and that was it, right around 8 minutes total. BUT......just to see Warren Haynes, Chuck Leavell, Billy Gibbons, Paul Rodgers and Slash all onstage together was really cool. And of course they made the two tunes sound great. The Black Crowes did a very nice "She Talks To Angels" with Darius Rucker and Chris Robinson trading lead vocals. Leavell sat in on keys.
Overall the show bored the hell out of me, but then I expected that too. They couldn't get any REAL country artists on this show, could they? Like Dale Watson or Ryan Bingham?? I thought the female performers were better than the men overall. With the exception of Keith Urban, EVERY single country guy has to sing with that exact same Southern TWANG in his voice. I guess you're not considered country these days unless you can do that. Not only their voices, their music all sounded the same to me too. BORING........
The theme of the night was obviously female empowerment and I think that's REALLY cool. Women are making big time inroads into country music, not just performing but writing and producing. The female theme was obvious when they brought out two entirely non-country female artists to perform their pro-female tunes: Gwen Stefani did "I'm Just A Girl" and Alanis Morissette did "You Oughta Know". The women in the crowd were ecstatic, as well they should be. Let's face it guys: Our male ancestors have sh*t all over women for SO many years. To me this is great to see, women much more in the limelight. And when you get outside of the country genre into rock, to these ears there are more interesting young female artists today than there are male. Check out a lady who calls herself St. Vincent who a friend turned me on to only last week:
Skynyrd set was predictable and enjoyable, def not long enough. Was Warren’s red strat the one that was stolen years ago?
I have to admit I liked Jelly Roll, and those country girls are sure fine looking…
Warren interviewed.
I know who Warren is. Not sure they do!
@steadyhorse Red headstock? Warrens had a red headstock and lancers. It was stolen right off the stage at an ABB show I think.
Alan Paul said it was one of Warren's favorite guitars so an extensive search was launched covering guitar and pawn stores everywhere but nothing.
I found the footage. That is a different Stratocaster. No red headstock. Played it on Sweet Home Alabama which has Ed King playing a Strat on the main solos but Warren played one of his Les Pauls on Simple Man.
Here is Warren's stolen guitar. Notice the red headstock.
Nice Gregg Allman Skynyrd tribute from the Fox in Atlanta some years ago.
New Mule that's news to me. Bring it on boys!!
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
Heard Warren talk of a rock album they did durin the shut down, but didn't relise it's being release in June. Why are'nt they touring to promote the new record instead of doing the dark side tour.
Heard Warren talk of a rock album they did durin the shut down, but didn't relise it's being release in June. Why are'nt they touring to promote the new record instead of doing the dark side tour.
new mule album or solo?
@matt05: Per the Warren interview that robertdee posted, "We have a new record coming June 12th and we start touring in May." Since he's saying "We" I would assume it's a Mule record and tour. Considering his devotion to the Mule I don't see that Warren would have time for a solo record/tour.
