Cody Johnson, Slash and Billy Gibbons played Simple Man » et « Sweet Home Alabama » de Lynyrd Skynyrd aux CMT Music Awards 2023.
A group of rock and country artists closed the awards ceremony CMT Music Awards 2023 with a vibrant tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd. The Southern rock band’s founding guitarist, Gary Rossington, who was the last original member, died in March.
The CMT Awards concert was hosted by guitarist Peter Frampton, who called Rossington “a southern rock icon and said that “ he’s now joined his Skynyrd mates in rock & roll heaven, but we’ll all enjoy their music forever ».
The tribute featured a medley of two of Skynyrd’s greatest hits, the ballad ” Simple Man » and the anthem of the southern identity « Sweet Home Alabama featuring singers such as Bad Company’s Paul Rodgers, Texas-native Cody Johnson, LeAnn Rimes and Wynonna Judd.
But the tribute was as much about singing as it was playing Skynyrd’s famous three-guitar attack. The organizers brought in big-name musicians to fill those roles, including ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Guns N’ Roses’ Slash and Warren Haynes, who also sang loudly. Chuck Leavell of the Allman Brothers (and longtime member of the Rolling Stones) also anchored the performances with his enthusiastic piano.
Members of Skynyrd’s tour were present at the Moody Center in Austin, including vocalist Johnny Van Zant, brother of late frontman Ronnie Van Zant, and guitarist Ricky Medlocke. The big winners of the night were Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson and co-host Kane Brown, who shared the night’s top prize with his wife Katelyn.
Jon Freeman
Translated by the editor