A lineup of rock legends got together at the CMT Awards to pay tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd. Skynyrd’s founder and leader, guitarist Gary Rossington, of course, died last month. The tribute was led by singer Paul Rodgers, formerly of Bad Company and Free. Cody Johnson sang as well. Slash from Guns N’ Roses, Warren Haynes from Gov’t Mule and the Allman Brothers Band and Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top were among the guitarists. Chuck Leavell, the longtime Rolling Stones keyboardist (and a former member of the Allman Brothers Band). LeAnn Rimes and Wynonna Judd both sang backing vocals. They were introduced by Peter Frampton, who frequently toured with Skynyrd.
The group started with “Simple Man,” and then played “Sweet Home Alabama,” with Haynes and Gibbons singing as well. Rimes and Judd were the true vocal stars of the performance though. Skynyrd’s Rickey Medlocke and Johnny Van Zant watched from the audience.
It wasn’t the only rock moment at the show. Judd and Ashley McBryde covered Foreigner’s “I Want To Know What Love Is.” Gwen Stefani was joined by Carly Pearce for her No Doubt classic, “Just A Girl.” Alanis Morissette sang her classic “You Oughta Know” joined by Ingrid Andress, Lainey Wilson, Madeline Edwards, and Morgan Wade. And in a nod to the fact that the show took place in Austin, Texas, Gary Clark Jr. performed “The House Is Rockin’,” in tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan. And Darius Rucker joined forces with the Black Crowes to perform their classic, “She Talks To Angels.”
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