All-star tribute to Southern rock greats closes out the annual awards show.
A Rock and Country All-Star Group capped off the 2023 CMT Music Awards with a rousing tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd. Gary Rossington, the band’s founding guitarist, and the last original member died in March.
The CMT Awards performance was introduced by guitar legend Peter Frampton, who referred to Rossington as a “Southern rock icon” and stated that “he has now joined his Skynyrd bandmates in rock & roll heaven, but we will all enjoy their music forever.”
The tribute included a medley of two of Skynyrd’s all-time biggest hits, the ballad “Simple Man” and the anthem of Southern identity, “Sweet Home Alabama,” performed by singers including Paul Rodgers of Bad Company, Texas native Cody Johnson, LeAnn Rimes, and Wynonna Judd.
Johnson and Rodgers roared through “Simple Man” with some Southern-fried vocals, but the tribute was as much about recreating Skynyrd’s famed three-pronged guitar attack as it was about the singing. They enlisted the help of some heavy hitters, including Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Slash of Guns N’ Roses, and Warren Haynes, who also did some powerful singing of his own. Chuck Leavell of the Allman Brothers (and longtime Rolling Stones touring member) also anchored the performances with his piano playing, ripping through familiar bits of “Sweet Home Alabama” with gusto.
Members of the Skynyrd touring operation, including singer Johnny Van Zant, brother of late leader Ronnie Van Zant, and guitarist Ricky Medlocke, were in the audience at Austin’s Moody Center. Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, and co-host Kane Brown were among the night’s big winners, sharing the top prize with his wife Katelyn.
