The 2023 CMA Awards, hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, paid tribute to the late Jimmy Buffett with a special performance by some of the biggest names in country music.
The special performance began with Kenny Chesney and Mac McAnally sitting on stools for a stripped down version of A Pirate Looks At Forty, a song from Buffett’s fourth studio album A1A (1974).
The musicians both traded off singing verses before harmonizing together, all while video of the late singer-songwriting legend paddle boarding in the ocean played behind them.
In a touching moment, McAnally changed the lyrics from ‘from just a few friends, just a few friends’ and instead sang ‘Jimmy made a whole world full of friends.’
Dressed in outfits Buffett would have appreciated, Jackson and Zac Brown continued the memoriam by singing the somber farewell Adios My Friend and his seminal hit Margaritaville, with the ’90s hitmaker in sunglasses and and the Chicken Fried singer barefoot and in denim shorts, which Buffett would have appreciated.
All-star tribute: Alan Jackson and Zac Brown were one-half of the tribute performance for the late Jimmy Buffett at the 57th CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville
All-star tribute: Kenny Chesney and Mac McAnally would also join in on the Wednesday’s tribute at the show hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning
All four of the musical artists involved in the tribute each had a special connection to Buffett, who died on September 1 at the age of 76 from Merkel cell carcinoma, which is a rare type of skin cancer.
Chesney first collaborated with the Buffett on two songs for his album License To Chill (2004).
The title track for the album, a remake of Hank Williams’ Hey Good Lookin, not only featured Chesney, but also Jackson, Clint Black, Toby Keith and George Strait.
The two musicians later recorded a version of Buffett’s song Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season (1974) for Chesney’s album Songs for the Saints (2018).
‘So goodbye Jimmy. Thanks for your friendship and the songs I will carry in my heart forever,’ Chesney wrote in a social media post following Buffett’s death.
McAnally (born Lyman Corbitt McAnally Jr.), 66, worked as one of Buffett’s backing instrumentalists in the Coral Reefer Band until his death, and produced a number of his songs across several of his albums.
Some three weeks after his passing, the Red Bay, Alabama native described Buffett as being the closest thing I ever had to a brother.’
Jackson and Buffett also teamed up for their single, It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere (2003), which ended up spending eight weeks at number one on the Billboard U.S. Hot Country Songs chart and sold more than three million copies in the U.S. alone.
Heartfelt: The tribute began with Kenny Chesney and Mac McAnally doing a stripped down version of A Pirate Looks At Forty, a song from Buffett’s fourth studio album A1A (1974)
Doing him justice: Jackson and Zac Brown continued the memoriam by singing the somber farewell Adios My Friend and his seminal hit Margaritaville
Paying homage: Alan Jackson came just for the occasion, wearing sunglasses and bright Hawaiian-style shirt, which was part of the Buffett style
Friends and colleagues throughout: All four of the musical artists involved in the tribute each had a special connection to Buffett
History: Zac Brown had previously teamed with Buffett on the song Knee Deep (2010), that’s from the band’s You Get What You Give album
Licensed to Chill: The group did their best to have a fun-loving time performing, which Buffett would have wanted
Previous connections: Chesney first collaborated with the Buffett on two songs for his album License To Chill (2004)
They also collaborated on Boats To Build (2004), which also appeared on License To Chill, as well as Barefootin (2006).
In a tribute to his friend, Jackson quoted the lyrics of Boats to Build on his social media platforms following Buffett’s death, end with, ‘RIP my friend.’
The Zac Brown Band had previously teamed with Buffett on the song Knee Deep (2010), that’s from the band’s You Get What You Give album.
The song reached the top of the Billboard U.S. Hot Country Songs chart and still gets performed during the band’s concerts.
‘Hope you’re knee deep in the water somewhere in paradise today, @jimmybuffett,’ the band wrote on social media after learning of Buffett’s death, in a reference to their song.’We were honored to know you and to make music with you. Fins up.’
Buffett sold over 20 million albums during his career that spanned nearly 60 years, beginning in 1964.
Collaborators: McAnally (born Lyman Corbitt McAnally Jr.) worked as one of Buffett’s backing instrumentalists in the Coral Reefer Band until his death, and produced a number of his songs across several of his albums.
Friends and colleagues: Jackson and Buffett also teamed up for their single, It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere (2003), which ended up spending eight weeks at number one on the Billboard U.S. Hot Country Songs chart
The island hopper: Buffett sold over 20 million albums during his career that spanned nearly 60 years, beginning in 1964
Mr. Margaritaville: With a net worth of $1 billion, Buffett was also a best-selling author and an entrepreneur that parlayed the ‘island escapism’ lifestyle of his music into several business ventures, such as the Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville restaurant chain
Known as being one of the world’s richest musicians, with a net worth of $1 billion, Buffett was also a best-selling author and an entrepreneur that parlayed the ‘island escapism’ lifestyle of his music into several business ventures, such as the Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville restaurant chain.
He also had ventures in hotels, casinos, liquor, and retirement communities, to go along with his devoted fan base, composed mostly of baby boomers, dubbed Parrotheads.
The father of three entered into hospice care in August, four years after his cancer diagnosis, where he had a final meeting with family and friends.
He would die at his home in Sag Harbor, New York on September 1, surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs.
‘He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many,’ a statement from the family read in part.
Buffett’s posthumous album — Equal Strain On All Parts — just drop on November 3, via Mailboat Records and Sun Records.
CMA Awards 2023 WINNERS
Entertainer of the year
Luke Combs
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Morgan Wallen
WINNER: Lainey Wilson
Queen: Lainey Wilson was the biggest winner of the night as she earned FIVE including top honor Entertainer Of The Year
Single of the year
WINNER: “Fast Car” – Luke Combs (Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton, Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews)
“Heart Like A Truck” – Lainey Wilson (Producer: Jay Joyce, Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce)
“Need A Favor” – Jelly Roll (Producer: Austin Nivarel, Mix Engineer: Jeff Braun)
“Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis (Producer: Paul DiGiovanni, Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley)
“wait in the truck” – HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson) (Producers: HARDY, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells, Mix Engineer: Joey Moi)
Album of the year
“Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville” — Ashley McBryde
WINNER: “Bell Bottom Country” — Lainey Wilson
“Gettin’ Old” — Luke Combs
“One Thing At A Time” — Morgan Wallen
“Rolling Up the Welcome Mat” — Kelsea Ballerini
Musical event of the year
“Save Me” — Jelly Roll (with Lainey Wilson) (Producers: Zach Crowell, David Ray Stevens)
“She Had Me At Heads Carolina (Remix)” — Cole Swindell & Jo Dee Messina (Producer: Zach Crowell)
“Thank God” — Kane Brown (with Katelyn Brown) (Producer: Dann Huff)
WINNER: “wait in the truck” — HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson) (Producers: HARDY, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells)
“We Don’t Fight Anymore” — Carly Pearce (featuring Chris Stapleton) (Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Carly Pearce)
Musician of the year
Jenee Fleenor
Paul Franklin
Rob McNelley
Derek Wells
Charlie Worsham
Vocal duo of the year
Brooks & Dunn
WINNER: Brothers Osborne
Maddie & Tae
Dan + Shay
The War And Treaty
Song of the year
WINNER: “Fast Car” — Songwriter: Tracy Chapman
“Heart Like A Truck” — Songwriters: Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson
“Next Thing You Know” — Songwriters: Jordan Davis, Greylan James, Chase McGill, Josh Osborne
“Tennessee Orange” — Songwriters: David Fanning, Paul Jenkins, Megan Moroney, Ben Williams
“wait in the truck” — Songwriters: Renee Blair, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt
Female vocalist of the year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Carly Pearce
WINNER: Lainey Wilson
Male vocalist of the year
Luke Combs
Jelly Roll
Cody Johnson
WINNER: Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
WINNER: Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
New artist of the year
Zach Bryan
WINNER: Jelly Roll
Parker McCollum
Megan Moroney
Hailey Whitters
Inspiration: Jelly Roll was a big winner as he earned New Artist Of The Year and gave an energetic speech
Music video of the year
“Light On In The Kitchen” — Ashley McBryde (Director: Reid Long)
“Memory Lane” — Old Dominion (Directors: Mason Allen, Nicki Fletcher)
“Need A Favor” — Jelly Roll (Director: Patrick Tohill)
“Next Thing You Know” — Jordan Davis (Director: Running Bear)
WINNER: “wait in the truck” — HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson) (Director: Justin Clough)
