George Strait Debuts New Willie Nelson Tribute Song “Sing One With Willie”
It’s both weird that fellow Texans and country legends Willie Nelson and George Strait have never collaborated together or even performed side by side in their illustrious careers, and yet it also makes perfect sense. Where Willie has always been the cowboy hippie, walking around in Indian braids with a bandana, and smelling like Thai stick, George Strait is straight laced as they come, with his Wrangler jeans and shirt expertly starched, and not an inch of crookedness in the lay of his Stetson.
But it was bound to happen eventually that the two would sing together, and the occasion of this weekend’s big Willie Nelson tribute show in Nashville at the Bridgestone Arena (1-12) sponsored by Blackbird Presents made for the perfect excuse. The two took the stage together near the end of the 4-hour presentation to sing a new song they co-wrote together, along with George’s son Bubba Strait, and producer Buddy Cannon contributing. Called “Sing One With Willie,” it will be on George Strait’s new album Honky Tonk Time Machine, and made for the perfect night cap to the tribute show.
I’ve had a wonderful career, but I think it’s quite clear
So I’m writing this down in a song…
…George Strait started out, with an All-Star band behind the duo, including Jamey Johnson on guitar, and Amanda Shires on fiddle. The chorus goes…
I ain’t never got to sing one with Willie
And I’ve held it inside long enough
Now I ain’t too proud, so I’m going to shout it out loud
I ain’t never got to sing one with Willie
Later Willie sings an answer verse (see video below). Some of the lyrics are hard to make out, but we’ll get to hear the studio version once Honky Tonk Time Machine sees the light of day. The entire Willie Nelson tribute was also taped for future airing on A&E some time later this year. After “Sing One With Willie,” George Strait and Willie also sang “Good Hearted Woman” together.
Also performing on the night were Chris Stapleton, Lee Ann Womack, Margo Price, Sturgill Simpson, Ray Benson, The Avett Brothers, Eric Church, and others. You can see the full set list below.
Willie: Life & Songs of an American Outlaw Setlist:
“Whiskey River,” Chris Stapleton
“Three Days,” Lee Ann Womack
“Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” Margo Price & Bobby Bare
“Sister’s Coming Home,” Steve Earle & Margo Price
“I Thought About You, Lord/Just As I Am/Time of the Preacher/Bandera/Hands on the Wheel,” Micah & Lukas Nelson
“Milk Cow Blues,” Jason Isbell
“A Song for You,” Nathaniel Rateliff
“My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys,” Lyle Lovett
“Shotgun Willie,” Lyle Lovett & Ray Benson
“Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground,” Alison Krauss
“Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” Vince Gill
“Georgia on My Mind,” Jamey Johnson
“Somebody Pick Up My Pieces,” Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks
“City of New Orleans,” Willie Nelson with Tedeschi/Trucks
“Bloody Mary Morning,” The Avett Brothers
“Willie Got There First,” The Avett Brothers
“Remember Me,” Norah Jones and the Little Willies
“I Gotta Get Drunk,” Norah Jones and the Little Willies
“Willie Got Me Stoned,” Jack Johnson
“Red Headed Rounder,” Sturgill Simpson
“Me and Paul,” Eric Church
“Night Life,” John Mellencamp
“Funny How Times Slips Away,” Dave Matthews
“Crazy,” Dave Matthews & Willie Nelson
“After the Fire Is Gone,” Sheryl Crow & Willie Nelson
“Pancho and Lefty,” Emmylou Harris & Willie Nelson
“Til’ I Gain Control Again,” Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, & Willie Nelson
“Me and Bobby McGee,” Kris Kristofferson, Eric Church, & Willie Nelson
“The Harder They Come,” Jimmy Buffett & Willie Nelson
“Always on My Mind,” Chris Stapleton, Derek Trucks, & Willie Nelson
“Song One With Willie,” George Strait & Willie Nelson
“Good Hearted Woman,” George Strait & Willie Nelson
“On the Road Again/May the Circle Be Unbroken/I’ll Fly Away,” with full cast
“Roll Me Up and Smoke Me,” with full cast
January 14, 2019 @ 9:15 am
What a great show and a stellar list of performers. Oh to have been there! Can’t wait to see it on TV. Doesn’t everyone secretly want to “Sing One With Willie”?!
January 14, 2019 @ 9:43 am
Why did Isbell perform “Milk Cow Blues”? Although Willie covered it on an album in 2000, it’s not a song I relate to Willie. Strange choice for an artists with a prolific catalog.
A couple other head scratchers, but ok because they were duets were “After the Fire is Gone,” w/ Sheryl Crow and “The Harder They Come,” w/ Jimmy Buffet.
I’m excited to hear Sturgill’s “Red Headed Rounder” (a song wrote by Merle Haggard). Hopefully on the new album.
It doesn’t strike me odd that Wille and Strait have never collaborated. Willie has been far more experimental with his career, whereas Strait basically recorded the same album for decades. I think it’s stranger Strait and Reba have never collaborated.
January 14, 2019 @ 5:35 pm
He did “The Harder They Come” on his reggae album ‘Countryman,’ and Buffett makes perfect sense as a duo partner on this one.
January 14, 2019 @ 6:02 pm
Just a head scratcher. Not a song I’d think of hearing at a Willie tribute, but I’m ok with it since he actually performed with Buffet.
January 14, 2019 @ 10:28 am
this was indeed a moment for COUNTRY fans .
that these two ‘ greatest living country legends’ -both from Texas – had never appeared on a stage and sung together is unbelievable .
that they finally do at this point in two incredibly influential and lengthy careers is at once emotional , joyous , fitting and somehow reassuring to fans of both and fans of COUNTRY music .
you can feel the adulation , the love , the ‘family’ and the gratitude in that stadium and immediately understand the importance and significance of these two icons …not only to COUNTRY music but to the millions of lives their music has touched .
with Willie’s recent health issues and creative burst as a songwriter this tribute was not only right …. it was necessary .
I look forward to ANYTHING these artists release ….and never moreso than in these questionable times in COUNTRY music’s history .
January 14, 2019 @ 11:23 am
That set list though…man I wish I could’ve seen that
January 14, 2019 @ 1:14 pm
Honky Tonk Time Machine is gonna be great going by this and Every Honky Tonk Bar.
January 14, 2019 @ 3:15 pm
I was there for this show and am still in shock that I was able to be there to see so many legends on stage at the same time. I just happened to be going to Nashville during this time to see another artist at the Ryman a couple days before this show so I knew that I couldn’t miss out on this. I pretty much had to pinch myself a few times during the show to make sure I was alive lol. Can’t wait to relive it again when they air it on television.
January 14, 2019 @ 3:35 pm
Can’t make out to much of the lyrics but can’t wait to hear it on the new album. Do we know has George even bothered sending Codigo or another song from the album out as a lead single?
January 14, 2019 @ 5:37 pm
I really hope this whole show comes out on CD at some point, but my guess is they’ll edit it down for release.
January 15, 2019 @ 7:14 am
Love it.