Category: Coming Soon

Austin City Limits Announces Season 51 Broadcast TV Schedule

Post author By Lily Angelle
Post date August 27, 2025

Trailblazing live music series Austin City Limits is proud to write the next chapter in its remarkable 50+ year run, forging ahead with the announcement of the series’ Season 51 broadcast season. ACL presents an all-star slate of highly-anticipated debuts and callbacks, including FINNEAS as the season opener and multiple 2025 Grammy nominees, including The Marías, My Morning Jacket, Charley Crockett, Waxahatchee, Samara Joy, Kelsea Ballerini, Cam and Jon Batiste. ACL will also celebrate the legendary Austin blues club Antone’s 50th anniversary as well as the series’ own 50+ year history of showcasing the blues in a special hour, Austin City Limits Celebrates Antone’s & the Blues, featuring a stellar slate of all-stars taking the ACL stage in a new installment.

ACL returns on Saturday, October 4 at 7pm CT/8pm ET with a revelatory hour showcasing ten-time Grammy-winning artist and producer FINNEAS making his solo headlining debut with a collection of songs from his critically acclaimed sophomore album For Cryin’ Out Loud! FINNEAS first appeared on the ACL stage in Season 45 in 2019 alongside his sister Billie Eilish and ACL presents the gifted singer and songwriter’s solo work in this outing.

Facing headwinds from the recent PBS funding cuts effective October 1, Austin City Limits’ longtime executive producer Terry Lickona recently spoke with Billboard magazine regarding the impact of the federal funding cuts to public media. Willie Nelson, who taped the series’ original pilot in 1974, and has appeared on the program more than any other performer, told Billboard: “Austin City Limits and PBS were and are an essential part of education, understanding, curiosity and empathy, which are the essentials and building blocks of humanity.” Beck, who has made multiple appearances on the series, commented: “Austin City Limits is one of the only film and TV outlets that documents great musicians at the peak of their powers. In decades to come, the shows are going to be some of the best documents and snapshots of this era of music.” To support Austin City Limits, donate to Austin PBS.

ACL airs weekly on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings) and full episodes are made available to stream online at pbs.org/austincitylimits immediately following the initial broadcast. Austin City Limits recently celebrated its milestone 50th Anniversary in 2024, and ACL continues its extraordinary run as the longest-running music series in television history, providing viewers a front-row seat to the best in live performance for an incredible half-century. Produced by Austin PBS, and recorded live at ACL’s studio home ACL Live in Austin, Texas, the live music beacon is a public media institution that presents quality live music performances featuring artists from all genres of popular music.

The Marías on ACL TV – Photo by Scott Newton

ACL’s Season 51 spotlights multiple fan-adored acts with epic hours: Groundbreaking singer, songwriter and producer FINNEAS takes center stage with new songs from his sophomore solo album For Cryin’ Out Loud! in a captivating season premiere. The hitmaker dazzles with highlights and new gems reflecting his compelling sonic journey in a must-see hour. Genre-blending LA indie pop band The Marías, a favorite of the festival circuit with buzzed about appearances at Coachella, Lollapalooza and ACL Fest, make their series debut in a spellbinding hour featuring songs from their acclaimed album Submarine. The bilingual group blends English and Spanish lyrics anchored by smoke velvet vocals, hypnotic guitar and lush jazz percussion. Jon Batiste makes his return to the ACL stage for the first time since his electrifying 2021 Season 47 debut. The seven-time Grammy-winner and Academy Award-winning musician and entertainer showcases a rootsy new collection of songs, Big Money, in an ecstatic, high-energy hour. NAACP Image Award winner and 5x Grammy winner Samara Joy shines with gorgeous vocals and exciting arrangements in her ACL debut, performing songs from her breakthrough album Linger Awhile and her latest studio album Portrait.

My Morning Jacket on ACL TV – Photo by Scott Newton

In an epic installment, rock legends My Morning Jacket return for the first time in nearly a decade on the occasion of their induction into the 11th Annual ACL Hall of Fame, joining the esteemed acts inducted since 2014. Special guest Oscar-winning filmmaker and best-selling author Cameron Crowe honors the fan-favorite Kentucky band, and MMJ take the stage with classics and new highlights from their latest album is in a thrilling hour with one of music’s great live acts.

Two standout country artists dazzle with their genre-bending sounds in a revelatory hour: The celebrated and chart-topping Kelsea Ballerini is luminous in her first-ever appearance performing a selection of hits and highlights from her acclaimed Patterns; Singer and songwriter Cam (who kicked off 2025 with a Grammy win for her songwriting contributions to Beyoncé’s landmark Cowboy Carter) shares the hour, in a sublime ACL debut showcasing heartfelt songs from her upcoming new collection All Things Light.

Another trailblazing pair of Grammy-nominated and road-tested roots acts get the ACL treatment in a magnetic hour: Texas troubadour Charley Crockett, who made a sensational ACL debut in 2021’s Season 47, carves his name in ACL history once again performing songs from Lonesome Drifter, the first installment of his Sagebrush Trilogy (followed by recently released Dollar A Day). He shares the episode with breakout singer-songwriter Waxahatchee in a sparkling ACL debut showcasing the best of her acclaimed Tiger’s Blood.

The legendary Antone’s “Home of the Blues” celebrates its half-century legacy in 2025, and ACL is proud to salute this influential Austin music institution’s milestone, along with the series’ own 50-year history of blues love, with a special Texas-sized installment, Austin City Limits Celebrates Antone’s & the Blues. This supercharged hour features a murderers’ row of blues all-stars and torchbearers who ignite the ACL stage with epic performances. Guest performers include Jimmie Vaughan, Kingfish, Charlie Sexton, Bobby Rush, Big Bill Morganfield, Grace Bowers and more, backed by a 14-piece house band of legendary players.

“As public media and PBS face severe funding cuts, ACL continues to lay the groundwork for the future in our 51st season,” said executive producer Terry Lickona. “A new generation of artists showcases their remarkable talents, mixed with a touch of down-and-dirty blues celebrating Austin’s iconic music venue, Antone’s.”

Season 51 2025 Broadcast Line-Up (second half of season to be announced separately):

October 4	FINNEAS
October 11	The Marías
October 18	Austin City Limits 11th Hall of Fame Honors My Morning Jacket
October 25	Charley Crockett \| Waxahatchee
November 1	Samara Joy
November 8	Austin City Limits Celebrates Antone’s & the Blues
November 15	Kelsea Ballerini \| CAM
November 22	Jon Batiste

Watch new episodes live, stream online, or download the PBS App. The complete line-up for the full 14-week season, including five new episodes to air beginning January 2026, will be announced at a later date. Viewers can visit acltv.com for news regarding live streams, future tapings and episode schedules or by following ACL on Facebook, Twitter, IG and TikTok. Fans can also browse the ACL YouTube channel for exclusive songs, behind-the-scenes videos and full-length artist interviews. Learn more about Austin City Limits, programming and history at acltv.com.

Austin PBS broadcasts 35,000 hours of curated content across four channels, devoted to education, arts and culture, and news and public affairs. We also provide a safe space for kids to learn and grow through our Austin PBS KIDS 24/7 channel. The station is home to beloved, award-winning Austin PBS Original series such as Austin City Limits, Overheard with Evan Smith, Central Texas Gardener, and its new weekly news program, Austin InSight, which blends in-depth reporting, incisive interviews, and Austin PBS’s unique approach to storytelling in an expanded commitment to news and public affairs content.

Tune into Austin PBS through one of our 4 channels, or stream online with the PBS App. Become a member and receive Austin PBS Passport, which gives station supporters access to even more content online—binge entire series before they air or catch up on programs you may have missed.

Tags Finneas, Jon Batiste, my morning jacket, Season 51, The marias

Coming Soon Featured Important Feature News

Austin City Limits Celebrates 50 Years premieres April 4 on PBS

Post author By emily
Post date March 20, 2025

All-Star Special Featuring Chris Stapleton, Gary Clark Jr., Billy Strings, Leon Bridges, Lyle Lovett, Shawn Colvin, Indigo Girls, Brandy Clark, Cam, Rufus Wainwright, The Mavericks, Ángela Aguilar, Eve Monsees & Sierra Hull

With Appearances by Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton

Austin City Limits commemorates half a century of unforgettable performances and iconic moments with a two-hour primetime broadcast, AUSTIN CITY LIMITS CELEBRATES 50 YEARS, on Friday, April 4, 2025, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS App (check local listings). Music luminaries and some of the brightest stars in the iconic live music television series five-decade history return to the fabled ACL stage for this landmark anniversary.

AUSTIN CITY LIMITS CELEBRATES 50 YEARS, the capstone of the groundbreaking series golden jubilee celebrations, pays tribute to this historic milestone and features dazzling new performances, heartfelt artist interviews, legendary artists and exclusive rarely-seen vintage footage from ACL’s extensive archives, highlighting iconic moments that have defined the show and shaped culture.

The program features themed highlights from ACL’s expansive show archives, each culminating with an original performance or artist interview. Segments will look back on defining moments and appearances in the show’s storied history, as well as performance milestones.

Relive unforgettable moments in ACL history through a time capsule of clips featuring Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Tom Waits, Ray Charles, Nancy Griffith, Emmylou Harris, Townes Van Zandt, The Chicks, Tracy Chapman and Lauryn Hill; forecast ACL’s future via recent appearances including Kacey Musgraves, Foo Fighters, Olivia Rodrigo, Jon Batiste, Brandi Carlile, Billie Eilish, H.E.R., Noah Kahan and Jelly Roll.

The performances, created exclusively for AUSTIN CITY LIMITS CELEBRATES 50 YEARS, include choice collaborations, and one-of-a-kind offerings from an all-star slate of music’s finest, many making a return to the ACL stage. The broadcast line-up features (in order of appearance): Chris Stapleton, The Mavericks, Leon Bridges, Indigo Girls, Brandy Clark, Cam, Ángela Aguilar, Shawn Colvin, Lyle Lovett, Billy Strings featuring Sierra Hull, Rufus Wainwright and Gary Clark Jr. joined by Eve Monsees; the special is co-hosted by Austin-based actors Jared and Genevieve Padalecki. All acts were captured live at ACL’s studio home, ACL Live at The Moody Theater in downtown Austin.

Country superstar and multi-Grammy Award winner Chris Stapleton honors ACL Hall of Fame icon and pilot star Willie Nelson with a powerful performance of Nelson’s classic “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground.”

ACL’s renowned songwriter circles, a series’ hallmark in the ‘80s and ‘90s, get reprised by a trio of storyteller songwriting greats: folk rock duo Indigo Girls (who appeared on an all-female circle in 1992) return to lead an intimate round-robin with celebrated singer-songwriter Brandy Clark and multi-platinum country artist Cam. The artists first trade off songs, then verses on the Girls’ classic anthem “Closer To Fine.”

Contemporary artists who’ve carved their name in ACL history return for the occasion: Grammy Award-winning next-generation bluegrass star Billy Strings, one of music’s most popular live acts, celebrates ACL’s legacy of presenting American roots music via a captivating performance with mandolin virtuoso Sierra Hull; Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Leon Bridges, a Lone Star original, delivers a fan-favorite; Rufus Wainwright, an artist who made history with the show’s first taping minus a live audience due to the pandemic, returns backed by a string section for a towering ACL performance; Rock and country trailblazers and renowned party-starters The Mavericks perform a sparkling number, amplified by a horn section, that has the audience on their feet.

ACL’s long-standing history of showcasing Latin acts – dating back to season one – is celebrated with thrilling footage featuring superstars Juanes, Rosalía, Cimafunk and many more, topped by a stunning debut performance by Latin Grammy and Grammy-nominated breakout star Ángela Aguilar, joined by Mexico’s legendary showmen Trio Los Panchos.

ACL celebrates its Hall of Fame honorees—artists who have been instrumental in making the series into the music institution it is today—with highlights from the music-filled induction salutes featuring Willie Nelson, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson and more, capped by an original performance from ACL Hall of Fame greats Lyle Lovett and Shawn Colvin.

In a salute to ACL Hall of Fame inductee Stevie Ray Vaughan’s iconic Austin City Limits appearances (1984/1989), Grammy-winning guitar great Gary Clark Jr. and blues guitar ace Eve Monsees team up to thrill with a two-song knockout of the Texas six-string giant’s classics.

Longtime Austin City Limits devotees and supporters Jared and Genevieve Padalecki (Gilmore Girls, Supernatural, Walker), host the celebratory evening, sharing anecdotes on ACL tapings they’ve personally attended as music fans.

“The entire history of Austin City Limits has been about music legacy and music discovery,” said executive producer Terry Lickona, who in turn marks his 48th year with the program. “It’s about original, authentic music from every genre, anywhere and everywhere. An eclectic music program like ours couldn’t exist anywhere else but PBS, thanks to a half-century of support for public media.”

AUSTIN CITY LIMITS CELEBRATES 50 YEARS broadcast setlist:

Chris Stapleton: “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground”

The Mavericks: “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down”

Leon Bridges: “Beyond”

Songwriters Circle:

Indigo Girls: “Share the Moon”

Brandy Clark: “Dear Insecurity”

Cam: “Burning House”

Indigo Girls w/Brandy Clark & Cam: “Closer to Fine”

Ángela Aguilar: “Piensa En Mi”

Ángela Aguilar with Trio Los Panchos: “Todo Una Vida”

Shawn Colvin with Lyle Lovett: “The Facts About Jimmy”

Lyle Lovett: “12th of June”

Billy Strings with Sierra Hull: “Soldier’s Joy” (instrumental)

Billy Strings with Sierra Hull: “Midnight on the Stormy Deep”

Rufus Wainwright: “Going to a Town”

Rufus Wainwright: “Hallelujah”

Gary Clark Jr. with Eve Monsees: “Dirty Pool”

Gary Clark Jr. with Eve Monsees: “Pride and Joy”

Funding for AUSTIN CITY LIMITS CELEBRATES 50 YEARS is provided in part by

Tags Season 50, TV broadcast

Coming Soon Featured New Broadcast News

Austin City Limits Spotlights Trailblazers Mickey Guyton and Carín León

Post author By Lily Angelle
Post date January 22, 2025

A pair of trailblazers make dynamic Austin City Limits debuts in an exciting new hour: Country maverick and Texas native Mickey Guyton and chart-topping global Latin music superstar Carín León. Guyton performs hits and highlights from her acclaimed sophomore LP House on Fire, while León thrills with an eighteen-piece band and songs from his 2025 Grammy-nominated album Boca Chueca, Vol. 1. The new episode premieres Saturday, January 25 @8pm ET/7pm CT as part of Austin City Limits anniversary Season 50.

Mickey Guyton on Austin City Limits, 2024. Photo by Scott Newton.

Texas-raised country queen Mickey Guyton lights up ACL with an irresistible performance showcasing her magnetic stage presence and powerhouse vocals. She opens the career-spanning set with the empowering title track of 2021’s breakthrough Remember Her Name, which made history as Guyton became the first Black artist to earn a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album. Guyton blazed this trail years before fellow Texan Beyoncé garnered the same honor with her landmark Cowboy Carter; when the R&B icon took the genre by storm this year she sent Guyton flowers and thanked her for opening the doors. Guyton performs a gorgeous version of Beyoncé’s “If I Were A Boy,” a song she presciently covered on her 2021 debut. “Y’all I’m just so blessed to be here right now,” shares a buoyant Guyton before launching into a pair of highlights from her latest release House on Fire, including the title track and the feelgood “Make It Me.” Guyton closes out the radiant set with her hit anthem “All American” as the crowd joins in on the soaring refrain “We got the same stars, the same stripes Just wanna live that good life Ain’t we all, ain’t we all American?

Carín León on Austin City Limits, 2024. Photo by Scott Newton.

Sharing the hour is another history-making artist: Global Mexican star Carín León had a banner 2024, earning a standing ovation at the Grand Ole Opry with a set sung entirely in Spanish; he made history as the first Latin artist to perform at both Coachella and Stagecoach. In a 2024 profile, The New York Times called him a “a supremely gifted singer who blows through musical and cultural divides with fearlessness and determination.” León won the first-ever Latin Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Mexican Music Album at the 2024 Latin Grammys for his Boca Chueca, Vol. 1, and was nominated for Best Música Mexicana Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards. León has lifted the genre to new heights of popularity in the United States as one of the most popular artists of the streaming era, with billions of streams on Spotify. A native of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, León is dressed in a cowboy hat and accompanied by an incredible 18-piece band including a full brass section, accordion, piano, acoustic, electric, requinto and steel guitar for his ACL debut. León performs a thrilling set featuring highlights from his latest album and his 2023 breakout Colmillo De Leche, seamlessly joining elements of banda, norteño, ranchera and country and sparking multiple crowd sing-alongs. “Dreams come true, y’all,” he says in Spanish. “I’m here tonight filming ‘ACL.’ To more nights like this…”

“Today’s Country music comes in many different shapes, styles, and colors, and that diversity has long been a hallmark of Austin City Limits for five decades,” said ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “Mickey Guyton would be a superstar in any genre, and Carín León’s voice transcends musical boundaries in a way that’s never been done before.”

Mickey Guyton setlist:

Remember Her Name

Higher

Better Than You Left Me

If I Were A Boy

House On Fire

Make It Me

All American

Carín León setlist:

Me la Avente

Como Lo Hice Yo

Casi oficial

No Es Por Acá

Te Lo Agradezco

Despídase bien

Primera Cita

Season 50 Broadcast Schedule (Second Half):

January 11 Norah Jones | Hurray for the Riff Raff

January 18 The Avett Brothers

January 25 Mickey Guyton | Carín León

February 1 Chris Stapleton

February 8 Sturgill Simpson Presents Johnny Blue Skies

February 15 ACL Presents: Willie Nelson & Family

Watch new episodes live, stream online, or download the PBS App. Viewers can visit acltv.com for news regarding the Season 50 second half broadcast line-up and episode schedules or follow ACL on Facebook, Twitter, IG and TikTok. Fans can also browse the ACL YouTube channel for exclusive songs, behind-the-scenes videos and full-length artist interviews.

Coming Soon New Broadcast News

Austin City Limits Season 50 Returns with Celebrated Singer-Songwriters: Norah Jones & Hurray for the Riff Raff

Post author By Lily Angelle
Post date January 9, 2025

The trailblazing music program Austin City Limits returns as the second half of its milestone 50th Anniversary broadcast season kicks off in 2025 with a fresh hour spotlighting two acclaimed singer-songwriters. Nine-time Grammy winner Norah Jones returns for ACL’s golden anniversary in her fifth series appearance, dazzling with numbers from her LP Visions, nominated for a 2025 Grammy Award. Singer and songwriter Hurray for the Riff Raff shares the hour, making their ACL debut with highlights from The Past Is Still Alive, an album that topped many critics’ year-end best lists and was nominated for 2024 Album of the Year by the Americana Music Association. The new Season 50 episode premieres Saturday, January 11 @8pm ET/7pm CT as part of Austin City Limits anniversary Season 50.

Norah Jones on ACL, 2024. Photo by Scott Newton.

Norah Jones made her first appearance on Austin City Limits in 2002, just prior to the release of her landmark debut Come Away With Me, her self-described “moody little record” which became a global phenomenon and propelled her to the world stage. She returns for the series’ milestone Season 50 with songs from Visions, her Grammy-nominated ninth studio album. The Texas native captivates with signature dreamy melodies and lush vocals in her latest ACL outing, moving from piano to guitar to keyboard throughout the radiant six-song set.

Hurray for the Riff Raff on ACL, 2024. Photo by Scott Newton.

Hurray for the Riff Raff, the performance name of New Orleans-based, Bronx-raised Alynda Segarra (they/them), make their ACL debut with highlights from The Past Is Still Alive. The autobiographical album received widespread acclaim and Best of 2024 raves from Rolling Stone, Paste, NPR, Pitchfork, The New York Times and more. One of roots music’s finest new storytellers, Segarra shares real-life stories from their time as an itinerant hitchhiker and train hopper, revealing profound truths about freedom and survival in America today. Clad in black leather, the artist and guitarist cuts a riveting figure as they perform soaring earworms about relevant topics in a must-see ACL showcase.

“Norah Jones is an ACL favorite who never disappoints, and it’s fascinating to showcase her growth as an artist,” said ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “Alynda is like a modern day Huck Finn who is taking us along for the ride.”

Norah Jones setlist:

Running

Paradise

Alone With My Thoughts

I’m Awake

Visions

All This Time

Hurray for the Riff Raff

Buffalo

Dynamo

Colossus of Roads

Snake Plant (The Past Is Still Alive)

Ogallala

Season 50 Broadcast Schedule (Second Half):

January 11 Norah Jones | Hurray for the Riff Raff

January 18 The Avett Brothers

January 25 Mickey Guyton | Carín León

February 1 Chris Stapleton

February 8 Sturgill Simpson Presents Johnny Blue Skies

February 15 ACL Presents: Willie Nelson & Family

Tags Hurray for the Riff Raff, Norah Jones, Season 50

Coming Soon Important Feature News

Landmark 50th Anniversary Season Returns January 11 on PBS with All-New Episodes

Post author By Lily Angelle
Post date December 11, 2024

The trailblazing live music series Austin City Limits proudly announces the second half of its landmark 50th Anniversary broadcast season, with new episodes that begin airing in January 2025 as part of the esteemed program’s fourteen-episode season. Austin City Limits returns with six all-new broadcast episodes for this half-century celebration, showcasing an all-star slate of returning favorites, alongside highly-anticipated series debuts and multiple 2025 Grammy nominees: Willie Nelson & Family, Chris Stapleton, Norah Jones, The Avett Brothers and Sturgill Simpson presents Johnny Blue Skies; first-timers include Carín León, Mickey Guyton and Hurray for the Riff Raff. Providing viewers a front-row seat to the best in music performance for a remarkable 50 years, ACL returns on Saturday, January 11th at 7pm CT/8pm ET. ACL airs weekly on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings) and full episodes are made available to stream online at pbs.org/austincitylimits immediately following the initial broadcast.

Season 50 returns in January with a diverse slate that spotlights multiple 2025 Grammy nominees. Celebrated singer-songwriter Norah Jones returns for the golden anniversary season in her fifth series appearance. The nine-time Grammy-winning Texas native dazzles with selections from her LP Visions, newly-nominated for a 2025 Grammy Award. Singer and songwriter Hurray for the Riff Raff shares the hour, performing highlights from their The Past Is Still Alive, which topped many critics’ year-end best lists and was nominated for 2024 Album of the Year by the Americana Music Association.

Carín León on Austin City Limits, 2024. Photo by Scott Newton.

A pair of trailblazers make must-see ACL debuts in a standout hour: Chart-topping global Latin music superstar Carín León thrills with an eighteen-piece band and songs from his 2025 Grammy-nominated album Boca Chueca Vol. 1., while country maverick and Texas native Mickey Guyton performs hits and highlights from her acclaimed sophomore LP House on Fire in a radiant debut.

ACL spotlights multiple fan-favorite acts with epic hours: The reigning CMA Awards Male Vocalist of the Year (for a record-breaking eighth time), ten-time Grammy-winning superstar Chris Stapleton returns with a scorching display of country-rock classics and gems from his LP Higher, just nominated for a pair of 2025 Grammy Awards including Best Country Album. One of the biggest live acts in music, Stapleton brings a stadium-size show to ACL in a performance for the ages.

The Avett Brothers on ACL, 2024. Photo by Scott Newton.

The Avett Brothers, who last appeared in milestone Season 40, thrill in a high-energy, career-spanning hour packed with highlights and new songs from their namesake first album in five years, The Avett Brothers. The North Carolina roots and alt-country trailblazers dazzle with gorgeous harmonies in their latest outing. Shapeshifter Sturgill Simpson makes his highly-anticipated return to the ACL stage for the first time in nearly a decade with songs from his latest album, Passage Du Desir; under a new name, “Johnny Blue Skies,” the Grammy-winning iconoclast and his ace four-piece band thrill with a new chapter alongside fan-favorite classics in a magnetic hour.

Willie Nelson returns to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of his 1974 taping with a special hour that closes out Season 50. For this special ACL Presents, a Texas-sized performance with Willie & Family was recorded outdoors at Austin’s Long Center, with the actual Austin skyline as the backdrop. Highlights from the performance will premiere on February 15, 2025, as a high point of ACL’s Season 50. Willie & Family share the magic in a shining hour filled with beloved classics from his catalog, marking only the fourth time in the show’s five-decade history that a performance has been taped outdoors. Nelson, an American original and ACL Hall of Fame icon, has appeared on the series more than any other performer; he carves his name in ACL history once again to celebrate the milestone of his performance from October 1974. That now legendary show, taped as the pilot for Austin City Limits, became the cornerstone for 50 years of groundbreaking, award-winning music television and served as a dispatch to the world declaring Austin’s place as a pioneering music city. The trailblazing live music program was given the green light, premiering on PBS in 1975. “The house that Willie built” is now an institution that has become the longest-running music series in television history.

Rounding out the series golden jubilee celebrations is a two-hour primetime PBS special, Austin City Limits Celebrates 50 Years, saluting the program’s historic milestone set to premiere on April 4, 2025. This all-star celebration features some of the brightest stars in the show’s 50-year history as they return to the fabled ACL stage; the special will feature one-of-a-kind music performances with a stellar line-up including Leon Bridges, Gary Clark Jr. joined by Eve Monsees, Billy Strings featuring Sierra Hull, Indigo Girls, Lyle Lovett, Shawn Colvin, Brandy Clark, Rufus Wainwright, The Mavericks, Ángela Aguilar and many more, co-hosted by Austin-based actors Jared and Genevieve Padalecki.

“Austin City Limits has stood the test of time, and our 50th season says it all,” according to executive producer Terry Lickona. “It’s a full circle moment, with Willie returning to the stage 50 years to the day since he recorded the original pilot. For me, that was the most emotional moment of the entire past 50 years!”

Season 50 Broadcast Schedule (Second Half):

January 11 Norah Jones | Hurray for the Riff Raff
January 18 The Avett Brothers
January 25 Mickey Guyton | Carín León
February 1 Chris Stapleton
February 8 Sturgill Simpson Presents Johnny Blue Skies
February 15 ACL Presents: Willie Nelson & Family
April 4 Austin City Limits Celebrates 50 Years

ACL’s landmark Season 50 launched in September 2024 with a sterling season premiere featuring Kacey Musgraves, newly-nominated for a trio of 2025 Grammy Awards. The first half of the season showcased many returning favorites in revelatory hours: rock and R&B dynamo Brittany Howard, country superstar Wynonna Judd and Colombian rock icon Juanes. ACL shone a spotlight on many ACL favorites: Austin’s own rock and soul guitar great Gary Clark Jr. and psychedelic soul act Black Pumas; standout singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers, formative bluegrass trio Nickel Creek and powerhouse husband-and-wife duo The War & Treaty. ACL showcased breakout acts in must-see ACL debuts: Chart-topping Nashville sensation Jelly Roll, next-generation singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams and newly-minted triple 2025 Grammy nominee Jacob Collier.

Produced by Austin PBS, Austin City Limits is recorded live at the series studio home ACL Live in Austin, Texas. Watch new episodes live, stream online, or download the PBS App. Viewers can visit acltv.com for news regarding Season 51 tapings and episode schedules or by following ACL on Facebook, Twitter, IG and TikTok. Fans can also browse the ACL YouTube channel for exclusive songs, behind-the-scenes videos and full-length artist interviews.

Tags Season 50, TV broadcast

Coming Soon Featured New Broadcast News

Austin City Limits Spotlights Country Music Hall of Fame Icon Wynonna in Powerful Hour

Post author By Lily Angelle
Post date November 7, 2024

This Saturday, November 9, Austin City Limits (ACL) spotlights country superstar Wynonna in an uplifting, revelatory hour. The Country Music Hall of Fame icon delivers an epic, career-spanning performance filled with solo hits, Judds classics and new gems. The celebrated singer/musician shares heartbreak, joy and stories behind the songs in this truly “must-see” installment. The new episode premieres Saturday, November 9 @8pm ET/7pm CT as part of Austin City Limits anniversary Season 50. ACL airs weekly on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings) and full episodes are made available to stream online at pbs.org/austincitylimits immediately following the initial broadcast. 2024 kicked off the yearlong 50th Anniversary of the revered music institution, which continues its extraordinary run as the longest-running music series in television history, providing viewers a front-row seat to the best in live performance for an incredible half-century.

Wynonna performs on Austin City Limits. Photo by Scott Newton.

With fringe on her mic stand, sparkling in a bejeweled black velvet suit with her distinctive mane of perfectly coiffed red hair, the one and only Wynonna lights up the Austin City Limits stage in an unforgettable hour. A musical force like no other, the charismatic singer with a giant voice takes the audience on a journey through her celebrated 40-year career. “I’ve sung a lot of songs about love,” winks Wynonna ahead of the early-career hit “Cry Myself To Sleep.“ “And this ain’t one of ‘em…I’d like to dedicate this to my first ex-husband.”

“So this is where it gets real y’all,” shares an emotional Wynonna about the 2022 death of mother Naomi, her longtime partner in the Judds. “I am a woman of faith, and that has been tested these past two years. I lost my momma to suicide and when she died I thought I would die of a broken heart. So instead I went on tour—a lot of people didn’t understand why—I now understand it’s because the music healed me and the fans supported me through a very difficult time in my life.” Despite the personal heartache, she fondly adds, “I shared a bus with her for 10 freakin’ years, try it sometime…We were something weren’t we,” Wynonna beams with pride to cheers. “So different, and yet those Kentucky harmonies is what drove us and that’s what this next song is about.” She then performs the deeply personal new number, “All Downhill From Ashland,” about the Kentucky town they came from and the crowd rises to its feet.

“It’s about to get country up in here,” announces the singer, and with vivacious, dazzling showmanship, she takes fans on a hit-filled joyride through classics from the Judds catalog and her own solo career, including “Why Not Me,” “Tell Me Why,” and “What It Takes.” Her ace eight-piece band is joined by Austin’s own Grooveline Horns for an ecstatic close as she thrills the crowd with a pair of fan-favorites, “Rock Bottom” and “No One Else on Earth,” proving there’s no one else like Wynonna.

“Wynonna is the perfect example of the healing power of music – whether it’s personal or political,” said ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “Life is an emotional roller coaster ride, and Wynonna’s songs and her very persona make that ride just a little bit smoother.”

Wynonna setlist:

What It Takes

Tell Me Why

Ain’t No Thing

Cry Myself To Sleep

Broken and Blessed

Give A Little Love

Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout The Good Old Days)

Why Not Me

All Downhill From Ashland

Rock Bottom

No One Else On Earth

Season 50 Broadcast Line-Up (second half of season to be announced shortly)

September 28 Kacey Musgraves

October 5 Gary Clark Jr. | Black Pumas

October 12 Maggie Rogers | Gracie Abrams

October 19 Jacob Collier | Nickel Creek

October 26 Brittany Howard

November 2 Jelly Roll | The War And Treaty

November 9 Wynonna

November 16 Juanes

Tags Season 50, Wynonna Judd