Austin City Limits brings out the big guns for Season 50 with a highly-anticipated hour spotlighting one of music’s finest: Chris Stapleton. The ten-time Grammy-winning powerhouse delivers a scorching set of country-rock classics and gems from his 2025 Grammy-nominated LP Higher. The new episode premieres Saturday, February 1 @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. 2025 continues the yearlong 50th Anniversary of the revered music institution, which celebrates 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.
Kentucky-born Chris Stapleton is a 10x GRAMMY, 19x CMA and 19x ACM Award-winner; he is the CMA Awards reigning Male Vocalist of the Year for a record-extending eighth consecutive year. In this long-awaited return to ACL since his debut in Season 43, the country hitmaker has become a bonafide superstar and one of the genre’s most celebrated artists. He delivers a career-wide set in an electric performance featuring hits and highlights including numbers from his latest album, Higher, which earned the 2024 Album of the Year honor at the ACM Awards and is nominated for Best Country Album at the upcoming 2025 Grammy Awards. In an intimate performance joined by wife Morgane Stapleton on harmony vocals and backed by an ace six-piece band, Stapleton flexes his outlaw soul and blazing guitar licks, powering through songs of desperation and desire including “South Dakota,” “Think I’m In Love With You,” “You Should Probably Leave,” and the current Grammy-nominated song for Best Country Solo Performance, “It Takes a Woman.” Stapleton thrills with knockout vocals on the slowburn gut punch “Cold” from 2020’s chart-topping Starting Over and the can’t-get-enough crowd is on its feet. He pays tribute to a pair of his influences: “We are in Texas so we should probably play a shuffle,” says Stapleton, “this one’s from one of my dear friends that I miss very much…” before launching into the late Texas music legend Guy Clark’s weed boogie “Worry B Gone;” Stapleton then tips his hat to another hero, Tom Petty, with a rousing rendition of the late rock icon’s “I Should Have Known It.” The hour closes with the fan-favorite “Millionaire,” as Stapleton is joined in close harmony with his partner and collaborator Morgane for a stellar close.
Chris Stapleton on Austin City Limits, 2024. Photo by Scott Newton.
“Everybody loves Chris Stapleton!” says ACL executive producer. “He brings attitude, heart and grit to Country music but in a way that appeals to fans of authentic music everywhere.”
Chris Stapleton setlist:
South Dakota
Arkansas
Cold
Worry B Gone
Think I’m In Love With You
It Takes A Woman
Joy Of My Life
I Should Have Known It
Starting Over
You Should Probably Leave
Mountains Of My Mind
Millionaire
Season 50 Broadcast Schedule (Second Half):
January 11Norah Jones | Hurray for the Riff Raff
January 18The Avett Brothers
January 25Mickey Guyton | Carín León
February 1Chris Stapleton
February 8Sturgill Simpson Presents Johnny Blue Skies
February 15ACL 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.
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, whileLeón 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.
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. 2025 continues the yearlong 50th Anniversary of the revered music institution, which celebrates 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.
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 11Norah Jones | Hurray for the Riff Raff
January 18The Avett Brothers
January 25Mickey Guyton | Carín León
February 1Chris Stapleton
February 8Sturgill 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.
The Avett Brothers return to Austin City Limits for the first time in a decade during the series’ historic Season 50. This fan-favorite act thrills in a high-energy, career-spanning hour packed with highlights and new songs from their first album in five years. The new episode premieres Saturday, January 18 @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. 2025 continues the yearlong 50th Anniversary of the revered music institution, which celebrates 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.
North Carolina roots rockers and alt-country trailblazers The Avett Brothers are among music’s most popular live acts, captivating audiences with uplifting songs and tuneful wonder for more than two decades. Fronted by siblings Scott and Seth Avett and bandmate Bob Crawford, they made their ACL debut in Season 35 and returned for Season 40. They now return for Season 50 showcasing their latest album, simply titled The Avett Brothers. The Avetts open the sparkling 10-song set with a pair of new numbers, “Love Of A Girl” and “2020 Regret.” Anchored by gorgeous vocals and mountain-music harmonies, the band thrills with the crowd-pleaser “I Wish I Was,” an acoustic marvel from their 2016 album True Sadness. The group’s onstage chemistry is obvious as they radiate joy and forge a unique connection with the audience. A set highlight is a spirited cover of Toby Keith’s “As Good As I Once Was,” as the Avetts tip their hat to the late country great with a rousing rendition of his 2005 hit. They wrap the hour with the stunning meditation “No Hard Feelings,” and the ACL crowd joins in for a powerful closer.
The Avett Brothers on Austin City Limits. Photo courtesy of Scott Newton.
The Avett Brothers setlist:
Love Of A Girl
2020 Regret
I Wish I Was
Laundry Room
Talk On Indolence
Cheap Coffee
We Are Loved
Country Kid
As Good As I Once Was
No Hard Feelings
Season 50 Broadcast Schedule (Second Half):
January 11Norah Jones | Hurray for the Riff Raff
January 18The Avett Brothers
January 25Mickey Guyton | Carín León
February 1Chris Stapleton
February 8Sturgill Simpson Presents Johnny Blue Skies
February 15ACL 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.
Austin City Limits returns to the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville for a special broadcast featuring performances from the 23rd Annual Americana Honors. For more than two decades, this celebration of roots music has honored the leading lights of the Americana field while showcasing unique performances and collaborations from pioneering mainstays and trailblazing newcomers. The program is filled with musical highlights from award-winning legends, buzzworthy new artists and longtime fan favorites, among them (in order of appearance): Duane Betts, Blind Boys of Alabama, Waxahatchee featuring MJ Lenderman, Noah Kahan, Jobi Riccio, Fantastic Negrito, Larkin Poe, Sarah Jarosz, Dwight Yoakam, Shelby Lynne, Sierra Ferrell and Emmylou Harris with Rodney Crowell. The hourlong special premieres Saturday, November 23 @ 7pm CT/8pm ET on PBS and the PBS app and varies by market (check local listings for times). Check PBS listings for local airtimes. The special will be available to music fans everywhere to stream online beginning Sunday, November 24 @10am ET at pbs.org/austincitylimits. The program’s official hashtags are #acltv and #americanafest. Viewers can visit acltv.com for news regarding upcoming tapings, episode schedules and select live stream updates. The complete line-up for Austin City Limits’ full 14-week milestone Season 50, including six new episodes to air beginning January 11, 2025, will be announced shortly.
Recorded live at Nashville’s historic “Mother Church,” the Ryman Auditorium, in September 2024, The Americana Music Association’s 23rd Annual Americana Honors & Awards ceremony is a celebration of the confluence of roots, blues, soul, folk and country music. For the thirteenth year, the producers of Austin City Limits, in conjunction with producers Martin Fischer, Michelle Aquilato, and Jed Hilly for the Americana Music Association, proudly deliver a special ACL Presents.
Sierra Ferrell performs on the 23rd Annual Americana Honors, 2024
Duane Betts opens the hour with a tribute to his late father Dickey Betts with a rollicking version of the Allman Brothers classic “Blue Sky.” “That one’s for you, Dad. We love you,” says the next-generation guitar ace. Folk duo The Milk Carton Kids introduce Sierra Ferrell, one of Americana’s top stars, saying “Dolly Parton is who we should look to for where Sierra is headed.” Ferrell, the much-honored Artist of the Year, performs her spellbinding Song of the Year-nominated “American Dreaming” from her LP Trail of Flowers (awarded Album of the Year). The country-folk-bluegrass star also recently scored nods across all the Americana categories for the upcoming 2025 Grammy Awards.
Waxahatchee (the performance name of acclaimed indie musician Katie Crutchfield) performs her Song of the Year-nominated “Right Back To It” from her album, Tigers Blood, also newly-nominated for a Grammy for Best Americana Album. She is joined by the record’s guest artist, singer-songwriter-guitarist MJ Lenderman for the performance. Artist of the Year nominee Noah Kahan delivers a stirring version of his 2023 breakout smash “Dial Drunk” accompanied by the Americana All-Star Band, including bandleader Buddy Miller, guitarist Larry Campbell, bassist Don Was and Jim Hoke on banjo. Americana legend T Bone Burnett introduces the Duo/Group of the Year honorees, the sibling act known as Larkin Poe, as “two sisters, who are deep practitioners of this [Americana] art form” and the powerhouse pair perform their scorching “Bluephoria” dressed in striking red outfits. Texas native and acclaimed singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist Sarah Jarosz delivers a sparkling “Jealous Moon,” a Song of the Year nominee from her 2024 album Polaroid Lovers. Emerging Act of the Year nominee Jobi Riccio shines with her slowburn “For Me It’s You” from 2023’s acclaimed LP Whiplash.
The special honors singular artists with Lifetime Achievement Awards, including The BlindBoys of Alabama, who revolutionized Gospel music with their infusion of a nontraditional, grooving rhythm section. The current line-up of the legendary group performs an ecstatic rendition of “Work Until My Days Are Done” that earns a standing ovation from the Ryman audience. The late blues and gospel pioneer Reverend Gary Davis receives the Legacy of Americana award with a salute by three-time Grammy-winning blues firebrand Fantastic Negrito. Resplendent in gold lamé, the guitar slinger shines in a sanctified take on the Rev. Davis classic “Samson and Delilah,” with revival-like intensity in a soaring performance amplified by the vocals of gospel greats the McCrary Sisters. Singer-songwriter Allison Moorer celebrates her big sister and Lifetime Achievement Honoree Shelby Lynne, calling Lynne “my personal trailblazer.” Moorer joins Lynne for a performance of “Gotta Get Back,” from her breakthrough album I Am Shelby Lynne, celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2025. C&W icon Dwight Yoakam is presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by singer-songwriter Brandy Clark, the night’s Song of the Year award winner. Yoakam thrills with his trademark Bakersfield-meets-rockabilly groove on his 1993 hit “Fast as You,” joined by Americana great Jim Lauderdale on backing vocals, and the Americana All-Star Band.
Americana favorite Margo Price introduces country legends Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell and the luminous hour comes to an unforgettable close as the two greats perform a gorgeous reading of the Gram Parsons classic “Return of the Grievous Angel” earning one more Ryman ovation.
Longstanding house band leader Buddy Miller returns as musical director for the Americana All-Star Band, featuring Don Was—a 2024 Lifetime Achievement Honoree—Larry Campbell, Jen Gunderman, Bryan Owings, Jerry Pentecost, Jim Hoke, and The McCrary Sisters backing many of the night’s performers.
Broadcast setlist:
Duane Betts “Blue Sky”
Blind Boys of Alabama “Work Until My Days Are Done”
Waxahatchee w/MJ Lenderman “Right Back To It”
Noah Kahan “Dial Drunk”
Jobi Riccio “For Me It’s You”
Fantastic Negrito “Samson and Delilah”
Larkin Poe “Bluephoria”
Sarah Jarosz “Jealous Moon”
Dwight Yoakam “Fast As You”
Shelby Lynne “Gotta Get Back”
Sierra Ferrell “American Dreaming”
Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell “Return of the Grievous Angel”
Watch new Austin City Limits 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 ACLYouTube channel for exclusive songs, behind-the-scenes videos and full-length artist interviews.
The 2025 GRAMMY OFFICIAL nominations have been announced, and Austin City Limits congratulates all the amazing nominees populating 94 categories.
We’d like to give special recognition to the nominees who have appeared on ACL. Big congratulations to Billie Eilish (ACL Alum, Season 45) a top contender with seven nominations. The global pop sensation earned nods for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Pop Duo/ Group Performance, and Best Dance Pop Recording.
Also awarded with seven nominations, Kendrick Lamar (ACL Alum, Season 41) is up for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
Kendrick Lamar performs on ACL Season 41. Photo by Scott Newton.
We’re thrilled to be showcasing many of this year’s nominees during our current Season 50. Stay tuned for new episodes premiering weekly on PBS. Congratulations to Chris Stapleton (Best Country Solo Performance & Best Country Album), Jelly Roll (Best Country Solo Performance & Best Country Song), Gracie Abrams (Best Pop Duo/Group Performance), Kacey Musgraves (Best Country Solo Performance, Best Country Song, Best Country Album, Best Americana Performance, Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical), Jacob Collier (Best Global Music Performance, Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella, Album Of The Year), Norah Jones (Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album), Carín León (Best Música Mexicana Album), and Brittany Howard (Best Alternative Music Album). All these amazing artists are featured on ACL’s golden anniversary Season 50. Visit pbs.org/austincitylimits or the PBS app to watch new episodes.
Jelly Roll on Austin City Limits, Season 50. Photo by Scott Newton.
A special shoutout to other ACL alumni who earned nominations: The Black Keys (Best Rock Performance, Best Rock Song), Cimafunk (Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album), Khruangbin (Best New Artist), Billy Strings (Best Bluegrass Album), St. Vincent (Best Rock Performance, Best Rock Song, Best Alternative Music Performance, Best Alternative Music Album), Charley Crockett (Best Americana Album), Jack White (Best Rock Album), and Pearl Jam (Best Rock Performance, Best Rock Album, Best Rock Song).
A full list of all GRAMMY nominees can be found here – good luck to all. Co-produced by ACL executive producer, Terry Lickona, the 2025 Annual Grammy Awards will telecast on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025.
ACL ALUMNI NOMINEES:
Record Of The Year:
“BIRDS OF A FEATHER”– Billie Eilish
“Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar
Album Of The year:
Djesse Vol. 4 – Jacob Collier
HIT ME HARD AND SOFT – Billie Eilish
Song Of The Year:
“BIRDS OF A FEATHER”– Billie Eilish
“Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar
Best New Artist:
Khruangbin
Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical:
Ian Fitchuk
Deeper Well (Kacey Musgraves) (Album)
Don’t Forget Me (Maggie Rogers) (Album)
“Peaceful Place” (Leon Bridges) (Single)
“Redemption Song (Bob Marley: One Love – Music Inspired By The Film)” (Leon Bridges) (Single)
“Three Little Birds (Bob Marley: One Love – Music Inspired By The Film)” (Kacey Musgraves) (Single)
Mustard
“Not Like Us” (Kendrick Lamar) (Single)
Daniel Nigro
“Can’t Catch Me Now (From The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes)” (Olivia Rodrigo) (Single)
“girl i’ve always been” (Olivia Rodrigo) (Track)
“so american” (Olivia Rodrigo) (Track)
“stranger” (Olivia Rodrigo) (Track)
Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical:
Amy Allen
“Chrome Cowgirl” (Leon Bridges) (Single)
“scared of my guitar” (Olivia Rodrigo) (Track)
Edgar Barrera
“It Was Always You (Siempre Fuiste Tú)” (Carin León & Leon Bridges) (Single)
“The One (Pero No Como Yo)” (Carin León & Kane Brown) (Single)
“Sincere” (Khalid) (Track)
Jessie Jo Dillon
“MESSED UP AS ME” (Keith Urban) (Single)
Best Pop Solo Performance:
“BIRDS OF A FEATHER” — Billie Eilish
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:
“us.” — Gracie Abrams Featuring Taylor Swift
Best Pop Vocal Album:
HIT ME HARD AND SOFT — Billie Eilish
Best Dance Pop Recording:
“L’AMOUR DE MA VIE [OVER NOW EXTENDED EDIT]” — Billie Eilish
Best Rock Performance:
“Beautiful People (Stay High)” — The Black Keys
“Dark Matter” — Pearl Jam
“Broken Man” — St. Vincent
Best Rock Song:
“Beautiful People (Stay High)” — Dan Auerbach, Patrick Carney, Beck Hansen & Daniel Nakamura, songwriters (The Black Keys)
“I Am Not Okay” — Casey Brown, Jason DeFord, Ashley Gorley & Taylor Phillips, songwriters (Jelly Roll)
Best Country Album:
Deeper Well — Kacey Musgraves
Higher — Chris Stapleton
Best American Roots Performance:
Nothing In Rambling” — The Fabulous Thunderbirds Featuring Bonnie Raitt, Keb’ Mo’, Taj Mahal & Mick Fleetwood
Best Americana Performance:
“Don’t Do Me Good” — Madi Diaz Featuring Kacey Musgraves
“Runaway Train” — Sarah Jarosz
“Empty Trainload Of Sky” — Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
Best Americana Album:
$10 Cowboy — Charley
Polaroid Lovers — Sarah Jarosz
Best Bluegrass Album:
Live Vol. 1 — Billy Strings
Best Contemporary Blues:
Mileage — Ruthie Foster
Best Folk Album:
Woodland — Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
Best Música Urbana Album:
LAS LETRAS YA NO IMPORTAN — Residente
Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album:
Pa’ Tu Cuerpa — Cimafunk
Best Música Mexicana Album:
Boca Chueca, Vol. 1 — Carín León
Best Global Music Performance:
“A Rock Somewhere” — Jacob Collier Featuring Anoushka Shankar & Varijashree Venugopal
Best Children’s Music Album:
My Favorite Dream — John Legend
Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording:
Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones — Dolly Parton
Best Song Written for Media Visuals:
Can’t Catch Me Now [From “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes”] — Daniel Nigro & Olivia Rodrigo, songwriters
It Never Went Away [From “American Symphony”] — Jon Batiste & Dan Wilson, songwriters
Best music Video:
“Not Like Us” — Kendrick Lamar
Best Music Film:
“American Symphony” — Jon Batiste
Matthew Heineman, video director; Lauren Domino, Matthew Heineman & Joedan Okun, video producers
“June” — (June Carter Cash)
Kristen Vaurio, video director; Josh Matas, Sarah Olson, Jason Owen, Mary Robertson & Kristen Vaurio, video producer
Best Recording Package:
The Avett Brothers — Jonny Black & Giorgia Sage, art directors
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical:
Deeper Well — Craig Alvin, Shawn Everett, Mai Leisz, Todd Lombardo, John Rooney, Konrad Snyder & Daniel Tashian, engineers; Greg Calbi, mastering engineer (Kacey Musgraves)
Best Immersive Audio Album:
Genius Loves Company — Michael Romanowski, Eric Schilling & Herbert Waltl, immersive mix engineers; Michael Romanowski, immersive mastering engineer; John Burk, immersive producer (Ray Charles With Various Artists)
Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella:
Bridge Over Troubled Water” — Jacob Collier, Tori Kelly & John Legend, arrangers (Jacob Collier Featuring John Legend & Tori Kelly)
Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals:
“Always Come Back” — Matt Jones, arranger (John Legend)
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)
