Somehow, Texas country music legends Wille Nelson and George Strait had never performed together — until last weekend.
Strait and Nelson were both in Nashville, Tenn. for Nelson's "Willie: Life and Songs of an American Outlaw" tribute Jan. 12 at the Bridgestone Arena. At the end of the nearly 4-hour show, King George and the Red-Headed Stranger stood together and performed a new song they wrote together with Strait's son Bubba and producer Buddy Cannon.
Titled "Sing One With Willie," the lyrics are all about how the two men have never performed together, with each one trading jabs at the other.
"Now I’ve heard him with Merle [Haggard], Waylon [Jennings] and [Johnny] Cash/[George] Jones and Toby [Keith], that man is totally gracious,” one of Strait's lines goes. “I’m thinking ‘Damn, why not me?’/We can even sing it on TV/Just like him and ol’ Julio Iglesias."
The Texan collaboration also featured a country music who's-who of backing band members, including Amanda Shires on the fiddle and Jamey Johnson on guitar. Other artists at the tribute included Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, Eric Church, Alison Krauss, Chris Stapleton, Margo Price, The Avett Brothers, Norah Jones and Jack Johnson.
"Sing One With Willie" will be on Strait's new album "Honky Tonk Time Machine," set for release sometime this year.
Check out the live Strait/Nelson duet at this link or watch below.