Category: Hall of Fame

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Hall of Fame News Taping Recap

Taping Recap: ACL 10th Annual Hall of Fame 2024

On the precipice of ACL’s 50th anniversary, folks filed into Austin City Limits’ studio home ACL Live at The Moody Theater on September 5 to witness Garth Brooks’ induction into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame, thus kicking off 50th anniversary celebrations with a hoot and holler heard round our great state. We knew the 10th Anniversary Austin City Limits Annual Hall of Fame Honors was going to be special, but nothing could have prepared us for a night the Austin American-Statesman declared a “raucous hoedown,” evoking the spirit of old Austin drawn from late nights at honky tonks, sharing beers with friends and strangers.

For the first time in the decade-long history of the ACL Hall of Fame, only one inductee was honored, making it all the more special of a celebration. Established in 2014, the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame recognizes legendary musicians and key individuals who have been instrumental in making television’s longest-running popular music show an institution. The ACL HoF is a historical archive, educational resource and celebration of ACL and the Austin spirit, capturing milestones in the history of the show and celebrating the performers who have graced its iconic stage. A longtime friend of the show, Brooks made his ACL debut in 1990 during Season 15 at the beginning of his career, and anchored ACL’s 25th Anniversary broadcast season with a pair of appearances in 2000 (and closing down Studio 6A on the UT campus before ACL moved its studio downtown), and made his celebrated return almost a quarter of a century later to the ACL stage, something he and executive producer Terry Lickona spoke of doing way back in Season 25. 

Following remarks from Chet Garner of The Daytripper and Austin PBS CEO Luis Patiño, a video tribute took guests on a journey through Brooks’ past Austin City Limits appearances. Next, executive producer Terry Lickona took the stage to present Brooks with the award of the evening. Overwhelmed with emotion, Garth stood back from the award podium for a beat, taking in the unending cheers from the studio audience. Joking about putting his award next to wife Trisha’s Yearwood’s (Yearwood was inducted in 2023), Brooks gave a rollicking acceptance speech before posing with the studio audience behind him for a crowd selfie. 

Brooks kicked off the night with unrivaled energy in what would turn out to be a career-spanning stadium-worthy performance, clocking in at over two hours. Playing a medley of songs that influenced his roots and served as a music lesson for the audience, including “Unchained Melody” and “Hallelujah,” Brooks warmed the audience up before his incredible 9-piece band joined him onstage for “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old).” “We’re gonna have fun tonight,” laughed Brooks as he and his band tore through hit after hit, including crowd favorites “Two Piña Coladas,” and “Thunder Rolls.” 

Brooks picked up a stack of papers with previously submitted audience requests written on them. He theatrically called out the requesters, asked them to stand, and interacted with them in a heartfelt way before playing requests; “Unanswered Prayers,” “It’s Your Song,” and more. When Brooks reached the last request, he read it animatedly, “Garth, I love you but…. can you bring out Trisha?” The audience was out of their seats, cheering, at that point. Trisha Yearwood joined her husband and now fellow ACL Hall of Fame icon onstage for an acoustic version of their “In Another’s Eyes” and a rousing solo rendition of her fan-favorite “She’s in Love With a Boy.”

At that point the studio audience was probably wondering if it could get any better than that. Brooks took a pause to introduce his longtime band, calling out backing vocalist Robert Bailey Jr. A little lively back and forth revealed Bailey Jr. had appeared in the legendary movie Animal House (as a member of Otis Day & The Knights), and led to Bailey Jr. performing a roof-rattling cover of the movie’s iconic “Shout!” joined by the band. Brooks then paid moving tribute to the night’s other man of the hour, longtime ACL executive producer Terry Lickona, dedicating “The Dance,” to him and describing Lickona as “the beating heart of the show.” From there, the grand finale had everyone out of their seats, clapping, dancing in a joyous crowd-singalong. Brooks brought the house down with his biggest hit, “Friends in Low Places,” ending the unforgettable night on a perfect note with his Austin friends. Before exiting the stage, Brooks and band bowed and waved to the audience. It almost seemed like Brooks would have stayed onstage all night, taking requests. That’s how much he loves his fans. 

Highlights from Brooks’ Hall of Fame induction ceremony will air as a special hourlong Austin City Limits broadcast in early 2025 to celebrate the program’s golden anniversary Season 50. 

The series’ anniversary season launches on PBS on September 28, 2024 with a season premiere featuring an hour with Kacey Musgraves.

© 8 Ten, Inc.
© 8 Ten, Inc.
© 8 Ten, Inc.
© 8 Ten, Inc.
© 8 Ten, Inc.

Garth Brooks performs at 10th Annual ACL Hall of Fame, 2024. Photos courtesy of © 8 Ten, Inc.

SETLIST:

“Don’t Close Your Eyes”

“Three Wooden Crosses”

“Night Moves”

“Unchained Melody/Hallelujah/Girl Crush/perfect”

“Much Too Young to Feel This Damn Old”

“Two of a Kind”

“Beaches of Cheyenne”

“Two Pina Coladas”

“The River”

“Turn the Page”

“Thunder Rolls”

Request Songs:

“Unanswered Prayers”

“It’s Your Song”

“We Shall Be Free”

“In Another’s Eyes” (w/Trisha Yearwood)

“She’s in Love With the Boy” (w/ Trisha Yearwood)

“Calling Baton Rouge”

“Shout” (performed by Robert Bailey)

“The Dance”

“Piano Man”

“You Never Even Called Me by My Name”

“Friends in Low Places”

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Featured Hall of Fame News

Austin City Limits kicks off 50th anniversary celebration with Garth Brooks

Iconic music series Austin City Limits (ACL) kicks off the 50th Anniversary celebrations by welcoming a new Austin City Limits Hall of Fame honoree into its ranks for this milestone: Garth Brooks. For the first time in the decade-long history of the ACL Hall of Fame, only one inductee will be honored at this epic 10th Anniversary Hall of Fame celebration taking place on September 5, 2024, at ACL’s studio home, ACL Live at The Moody Theater in downtown Austin. Brooks and his band will perform for the occasion. Brooks anchored ACL’s 25th Anniversary broadcast season with a pair of appearances and returns now for the Hall of Fame salute to launch the trailblazing television series’ record-making 50th season. Musical highlights and Brooks’ induction from the Hall of Fame ceremony will air as a special hourlong broadcast of Austin City Limits as a highlight of the program’s golden anniversary Season 50 which premieres on September 28, 2024, on PBS. 

“To be part of anything Austin City Limits is and always has been an honor,” Brooks said. “I am humbled and grateful to not only be a part of the 50th Anniversary, but to be inducted into the ACL Hall of Fame is over the top.”

The event is open to the public and a limited number of tickets will be on sale August 2 at acltv.com/hall-of-fame via AXS ticketing. Sponsor packages are available now. This event will be a phone-free experience. Upon arrival at the venue, tickets will be scanned and all phones will be secured in Yondr cases that will be unlocked at the end of the event. Austin City Limits 10th Annual Hall of Fame Honors is produced by Austin PBS and proceeds benefit the public television station. 

2024 marks the 50th Anniversary of the live music beacon Austin City Limits, which taped its debut pilot episode on October 17, 1974; the pioneering series then premiered on PBS in 1975. ACL celebrates its remarkable legacy with a yearlong celebration through 2025. Since its inception in 2014, the ACL Hall of Fame has honored legendary artists who have played a pivotal role in the trailblazing music series’ outstanding half-century as a music institution. The inaugural awards in 2014 honored Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Garth Brooks has longtime ties to ACL, with three legendary Austin City Limits performances. He first appeared on the program in 1990, during Season 15, at the beginning of his career. The celebrated artist returned a decade later to both open and close ACL’s milestone Season 25 with two hourlong episodes.

Brooks returned to ACL in 2021 for a memorable pair of intimate, non-broadcast events to close Studio 6A on the University of Texas campus, the fabled soundstage where the program first started recording in 1974. Brooks carved his name into ACL’s history with the final performances in the historic studio that was the show’s home from 1974 to 2010, before a move to downtown Austin. The singular artist performed the special benefit shows solo acoustic to a sold-out audience of 200 fans per night, as a fundraiser for Austin PBS, sharing stories, taking song requests, and answering questions from the audience.  

“Garth is a special friend—there’s no one else quite like him,” said longtime ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “He never forgets his roots, or the people who were there for him in those early days. He hit the ACL stage just as his career was taking off, kicked off our 25th anniversary season, and now almost 25 years later, it’s our turn to honor him.”

Austin City Limits Hall of Fame celebrates the legacy of legendary artists and key individuals who have played a vital part in the pioneering music series’ remarkable half-century as a music institution. The Hall of Fame has inducted over twenty artists at nine previous ceremonies including Willie Nelson, Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, Lloyd Maines, Asleep at the Wheel, Loretta Lynn, Guy Clark, Flaco Jiménez, Townes Van Zandt, Kris Kristofferson, Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King, Roy Orbison, Rosanne Cash, The Neville Brothers, Ray Charles, Marcia Ball, Los Lobos, Lyle Lovett, Buddy Guy, Shawn Colvin, Lucinda Williams, Wilco, Alejandro Escovedo, Sheryl Crow and Joe Ely. The ninth annual Hall of Fame in 2023 welcomed John Prine and Trisha Yearwood to its ranks.

About Garth Brooks:

Garth Brooks just opened his brand new bar on Lower Broadway in Nashville, Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk. The opening was celebrated with a Dive Bar concert on Black Friday that streamed exclusively on Amazon. He also just released a new boxed set, “The Limited Series,” which is the third and final in the series and contains Garth’s 14th studio album, Time Traveler. The boxed set is on sale exclusively at Bass Pro Shops. Garth has returned to radio with the SEVENS Radio Network on TuneIn. So far, the announced stations include The BIG 615 with Storme Warren, Tailgate Radio with Maria Taylor and The Garth Channel. He currently has a residency, Garth Brooks/Plus ONE at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. 2023 completely sold out, dates for 2024 are currently on sale. In 2022, Garth completed the three and a half year long Stadium Tour. It drew an average of more than 95 thousand people in each city it played and was seen by a cumulative audience of nearly three-million people. The tour ended that September when Garth played the fifth sold-out concert at Dublin, Ireland’s Croke Park. The five concerts were seen by over 400-thousand people. Garth has received every accolade you can bestow on an artist. Garth has received The Kennedy Center Honor, the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, seven CMA Entertainer of the Year honors and nine Diamond Awards. He remains the #1-selling solo artist in U.S. history, certified by the RIAA with 162 million album sales.​

Austin City Limits and the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame are produced by Austin PBS. Austin PBS is a non-profit organization providing public television and educational resources to Central Texas as well as producing quality national programming. 

Austin City Limits

Austin City Limits (ACL) offers viewers unparalleled access to featured acts in an intimate setting that provides a platform for artists to deliver inspired, memorable, full-length performances. Now launching its 50th Season, the program is taped live before a concert audience from The Moody Theater in downtown Austin. Austin City Limits is the longest-running music series in television history and remains the only TV series to ever be awarded the National Medal of Arts. Since its inception, the groundbreaking music series has become an institution that’s helped secure Austin’s reputation as the Live Music Capital of the World. The historic Austin PBS Studio 6A, home to 36 years of ACL concerts, has been designated an official Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Landmark. In 2011, ACL moved to the new venue ACL Live at The Moody Theater in downtown Austin. ACL received a rare institutional Peabody Award for excellence and outstanding achievement in 2012. ACL celebrates 50 years as an American music institution in 2024-2025.

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Episode Recap Featured Hall of Fame New Broadcast News

Episode premiere: ACL 9th Annual Hall of Fame Honors John Prine

The cast takes a bow during the late John Prine's induction into the ACL Hall of Fame in 2023. L-R: Tyler Childers, Allison Russell, Tommy Prine, Nathaniel Rateliff, Kurt Vile, Valerie June. Photo by Scott Newton.

Iconic television series Austin City Limits (ACL) returns on Saturday, January 13 with a special broadcast: Austin City Limits 9th Annual Hall of Fame Honors John Prine, saluting the late legendary singer-songwriter and newest inductee John Prine and featuring an all-star slate of guest performers paying tribute to their friend, hero and inspiration: Tyler Childers, Valerie June, Tommy Prine, Nathaniel Rateliff, Allison Russell and Kurt Vile. The hour-long broadcast premieres Saturday, January 13 at 8pm ET/7pm CT on PBS. Check local PBS listings for times. The special will be available to music fans everywhere to stream online beginning Sunday, January 14 at 10am ET at pbs.org/austincitylimits. A special companion Hall of Fame hour salutes fellow inductee Trisha Yearwood and will close out Season 49 on March 2. The series returns January 20 ringing in a new year with all-new episodes as part of its Season 49. The Peabody Award-winning program, produced by Austin PBS and recorded live at ACL’s studio home ACL Live in Austin, Texas, continues its extraordinary run as the longest-running music television show in history. ACL provides viewers a front-row seat to the best in live performance for 49 years as this American music institution nears a remarkable half-century milestone this year. Willie Nelson taped the pilot episode in 1974 and the trailblazing series premiered in 1975. Stay tuned for news on special concerts, fan events and activations as Austin City Limits salutes an incredible legacy of 50 golden years of American musical history and iconic performances. ACL airs weekly on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings) and full episodes are made available to stream online at pbs.org/austincitylimits following the initial broadcast.  

Since the inaugural 2014 ACL Hall of Fame honoring Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan, the music-filled salutes have become fan-favorites. Austin City Limits takes viewers inside the celebration with a pair of deep-dive presentations from this year’s Inductions, recorded live in Austin, Texas on October 26, 2023. The special installments, Austin City Limits 9th Annual Hall of Fame Honors, will bookend the second half of the season and salute newly-minted inductees John Prine and Trisha Yearwood with separate hours that showcase each artist’s Hall of Fame tribute, featuring musical performances, along with extended highlights including induction speeches and vintage clips from the honorees’ multiple appearances on Austin City Limits.

The first HOF episode premieres January 13 at 7pm CT/8pm ET, toasting the late singer-songwriter John Prine. Actor Ethan Hawke inducts the beloved icon posthumously as music greats Tyler Childers, Valerie June, Tommy Prine, Nathaniel Rateliff, Allison Russell and Kurt Vile salute the celebrated artist in a heartfelt hour featuring exclusive ACL intimate tributes alongside highlights from Prine’s eight appearances on the ACL stage. Rounding out Season 49 on March 2 at 7pm CT/8pm ET is a Hall of Fame tribute to country superstar Trisha Yearwood, Austin City Limits 9th Annual Hall of Fame Honors Trisha Yearwood, with Don Henley handling induction honors and musical salutes featuring Henley, Brandy Clark, Ronnie Dunn, Jo Dee Messina and Brothers Osborne along with vintage clips from Yearwood’s four classic ACL appearances.

John Prine made his ACL debut in 1979, and the captivating hour opens with vintage highlights from his eight appearances, including a 2002 appearance joining Bonnie Raitt for one of his most iconic songs, “Angel from Montgomery,” and his final ACL appearance in 2018, showcasing gems from his late-career triumph The Tree of Forgiveness. Actor Ethan Hawke, a longtime fan, tips his hat to the revered songwriter and delivers a rousing, inspired induction, celebrating Prine’s “homespun genius,” saying, “To love John Prine and his songs is to be part of one of the greatest conversations imaginable,” and calls him “a vivid, beautiful example of a singer-songwriter who chased excellence and truth rather than fame.” John’s widow Fiona, joined by their three sons, accepts on his behalf, saying “Austin City Limits, in its 50th year, continues to uphold the songwriter and the song,” and “for John, getting that call (to appear) was a thrill every single time.” 

Prine’s youngest son Tommy kicks off the musical tribute with one of his favorite songs by his late father, “Souvenirs,” saying, “This song made it into every single setlist, pretty much every show he every played,” and closes with a poignant “I miss you Daddy.” A stellar slate of singer-songwriter aces take the stage to salute their hero in song: Prine’s cross-generational appeal is evident as indie songwriter-guitarist Kurt Vile performs a wistful, solo acoustic “How Lucky,” a Prine gem he recorded with Prine himself shortly before his 2020 passing; Allison Russell calls Prine “a foundational influence as a writer and as a human,” and renders a soaring “Storm Windows,” the title track of Prine’s 1980 album, backed by the ACL All-Stars house band, led by pedal steel ace Lloyd Maines; Nathaniel Rateliff hails, “We love you Handsome Johnny,” and regales the crowd with stories of Prine’s legendary wit and storytelling, before launching into a faithful rendition of “All the Best,” from Prine’s seminal 1991 album The Missing Years; Tyler Childers, who appeared as a guest of Prine during his final ACL appearance in 2018 for Season 44, performs one of his favorite John Prine songs, the honky-tonker “Yes I Guess They Oughta Name a Drink After You,” from the songwriter’s 1972 Diamonds in the Rough. Prine was “the gospel truth,” says Valerie June, and delivers a sparkling “Angel From Montgomery,” the Prine classic from his 1971 self-titled debut. The all-star cast returns for a poignant “Paradise,” trading verses on the Prine signature, with Tommy Prine taking his father’s last verse for a moving close and a standing ovation. 

The night’s performers are accompanied by the ACL All-Stars house band, led by ACL Hall of Famer, renowned steel guitarist and musical director Lloyd Maines, and featuring guitarist David Grissom, keyboardist Chris Gage, bassist Bill Whitbeck and drummer Tom Van Schaik.

“We had planned to induct John into the ACL Hall of Fame in 2020, before he tragically became an early victim of the Covid pandemic,” said ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “There were many well-deserved tributes at the time, but this year finally felt like the right moment to recognize his long history with ACL. Working closely with John’s family, we created a special celebration of his impact on singers and songwriters across so many genres.”

Austin City Limits 9th Annual Hall of Fame Honors John Prine (in order of appearance):

Tommy Prine “Souvenirs”

Kurt Vile “How Lucky”

Allison Russell “Storm Windows”

Nathaniel Rateliff “All the Best”

Tyler Childers “Yes I Guess They Oughta Name a Drink After You”

Valerie June “Angel From Montgomery”

All-Star Finale “Paradise”

The second half of ACL”s Season 49 continues in January with a diverse slate spotlighting multiple 2024 Grammy nominees: Five-time Grammy Award-winning innovator Robert Glasper, newly-nominated for a pair of 2024 Grammy Awards, brings his celebrated Black Radio series to life on the ACL stage joined by a trio of multiple Grammy-nominated and Grammy-winning special guests, including R&B singers Emily King and Yebba, along with rapper D Smoke; sharing the hour is eclectic, next-generation jazz duo DOMi and JD BECK, nominated for a 2023 Best New Artist Grammy, making their ACL debut with songs from their debut Not Tight. Breakout Vermont singer-songwriter Noah Kahan, nominated for a 2024 Best New Artist Grammy, makes a highly-anticipated debut on the ACL stage with songs from his acclaimed Stick Season; sharing the hour is the groundbreaking all-female mariachi act Flor de Toloache, with numbers from their 2024 Grammy-nominated album Motherflower. A season highlight is the long-awaited comeback, after nearly four decades, of country icon and Texas native Tanya Tucker for a must-see performance of career classics and new gems from her Sweet Western Sound; sharing the hour is country breakout Brittney Spencer with selections from her upcoming debut My Stupid Life. 

ACL spotlights a number of popular acts with career-spanning hours: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legends Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo make their first-ever appearance on the series with an epic hour of classic rock highlights with the hitmakers showcasing gems from across their career; modern rock superstar Alanis Morissette makes her ACL debut with an hour of classics in an ecstatic live performance; ACL Hall of Fame icon Bonnie Raitt returns for the first time in a decade with a selection of favorites and highlights from her triple 2023 Grammy-winning album Just Like That… in a sterling new hour.

Season 49 Broadcast Schedule (Second Half):

January 13 Austin City Limits 9th Annual Hall of Fame Honors John Prine

January 20 Robert Glasper | DOMi and JD BECK

January 27 Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo

February 3 Tanya Tucker | Brittney Spencer

February 10 Noah Kahan | Flor de Toloache

February 17 Alanis Morissette

February 24 Bonnie Raitt

March 2 Austin City Limits 9th Annual Hall of Fame Honors Trisha Yearwood

Watch new episodes live, stream online, or download the PBS App. Viewers can visit acltv.com for news regarding upcoming Season 50 tapings, live streams 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.

Austin City Limits

Austin City Limits (ACL) offers viewers unparalleled access to featured acts in an intimate setting that provides a platform for artists to deliver inspired, memorable, full-length performances. Now in its 49th Season, the program is taped live before a concert audience from The Moody Theater in downtown Austin. Austin City Limits is the longest-running music series in television history and remains the only TV series to ever be awarded the National Medal of Arts. Since its inception, the groundbreaking music series has become an institution that’s helped secure Austin’s reputation as the Live Music Capital of the World. The historic Austin PBS Studio 6A, home to 36 years of ACL concerts, has been designated an official Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Landmark. In 2011, ACL moved to the new venue ACL Live at The Moody Theater in downtown Austin. ACL received a rare institutional Peabody Award for excellence and outstanding achievement in 2012. ACL celebrates 50 years as an American music institution in 2024.  

Austin City Limits is produced by Austin PBS and funding is provided in part by Dell Technologies, the Austin Convention Center Department, Cirrus Logic and AXS Ticketing. Additional funding is provided by the Friends of Austin City Limits. Learn more about Austin City Limits, programming and history at acltv.com.

Austin City Limits Hall of FameIn 2014, Austin PBS, KLRU-TV — creator and producer of the legendary PBS show Austin City Limits — established the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame to recognize legendary musicians and key individuals who have been instrumental in making television’s longest-running popular music show an institution. Each year a new class of honorees are inducted and celebrated at a live event taped to air on PBS. It is also a historical archive, educational resource and celebration of Austin City Limits —telling the story of the show through photos, a timeline/anthology mural and in the near future, an interactive database of vintage Austin City Limits performances and video footage of interviews, behind-the-scenes and never before seen performances throughout the decades. Honorees to-date include Willie Nelson, Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, Lloyd Maines, Asleep at the Wheel, Loretta Lynn, Flaco Jiménez, Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, Bonnie Raitt, Kris Kristofferson, B.B. King, Rosanne Cash, The Neville Brothers, Roy Orbison, Marcia Ball, Ray Charles, Los Lobos, Lyle Lovett, Shawn Colvin, Buddy Guy, Lucinda Williams, Wilco, Alejandro Escovedo, Joe Ely, Sheryl Crow, John Prine and Trisha Yearwood.

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Hall of Fame News

Bid on a piece of Austin City Limits History in Austin PBS’s 2023 Hall of Fame Auction

Enter the 2023 ACL Hall of Fame Auction for a Chance to Win Artist Signed Posters, Custom Guitars, and more Austin City Limits Collectibles!

As a part of the 2023 ACL Hall of Fame, honoring Trisha Yearwood and John Prine, Austin PBS and ACL have created a special online auction featuring an array of once-in-a-lifetime items and experiences. This auction marks the start of a year-long celebration of Austin City Limits’ 50th Anniversary Season in 2024.

Register to bid and view all the items featured in the auction before it opens on Wednesday, October 25 at 10 a.m. CT. 

Items include access to tapings during Season 50, a custom Collings C-10 guitar using wood from the original ACL Studio 6A stage, a Gibson Les Paul to be signed by all the Season 50 artists, signed posters from deep in the archives, autographed Soundwaves fine art honoring the honorees, private parties and screening, one-of-a-kind mementos and more. Auction closes Friday, October 27 at 10 a.m. CT. 

Proceeds from the night go directly back to the Austin PBS station to continue our work in the community, support Made In Austin productions like Austin City Limits and to celebrate Season 50 of ACL.

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Featured Hall of Fame News Taping Announcement

Austin City Limits Announces Full Line-Up for 2023 ACL Hall of Fame

Austin City Limits proudly announces additional guest performers for the 2023 ACL Hall of Fame Inductions & Celebration on October 26, 2023. Acclaimed singer-songwriters Brandy Clark, Valerie June, Nathaniel Rateliff and Grammy-winning duo Brothers Osborne will join the previously announced line-up of music luminaries slated to perform: Tyler Childers, Ronnie Dunn, Don Henley, Jo Dee Messina, Tommy Prine, Allison Russell and Kurt Vile. The all-star line-up will salute a pair of American originals—country superstar Trisha Yearwood and late, beloved singer-songwriter John Prine—with one-of-a-kind music performances and intimate tributes as they are inducted into the ACL Hall of Fame. All-star guests will handle induction honors on this epic night: Don Henley will induct Trisha Yearwood; renowned actor and filmmaker Ethan Hawke will induct John Prine posthumously. 

The inductees will be honored at a star-studded ceremony at ACL’s studio home, ACL Live at The Moody Theater in downtown Austin. Austin City Limits 9th Annual Hall of Fame is produced by Austin PBS. Musical highlights and inductions from the celebration will air as a pair of companion Austin City Limits Hall of Fame Honors installments dedicated to each inductee, set to air in January 2024 on PBS.

Co-founder of the Eagles Don Henley, will induct his longtime friend Trisha Yearwood and perform in tribute. Brandy Clark and Brothers Osborne join country greats Jo Dee Messina and Ronnie Dunn in saluting Yearwood; additionally, honoree Yearwood is slated to perform with Don Henley at the celebration. Actor and Austin native Ethan Hawke will induct John Prine, who passed away in 2020. Music great Nathaniel Rateliff and musician, artist, and bestselling author Valerie June join the musical salute as a stellar slate of guest artists take the stage to pay tribute to their friend, mentor and inspiration, including acclaimed singer-songwriter Tyler Childers, who performed with Prine during his final ACL taping in 2018 for Season 44, Americana great Allison Russell, and singer, songwriter and guitar ace Kurt Vile. John’s son, singer-songwriter Tommy Prine, will perform in honor of his father.

ACL Hall of Famer, renowned steel guitarist and producer Lloyd Maines, returns as Music Director, leading the ACL All-Stars house band featuring guitarist David Grissom, keyboardist Chris Gage, bassist Bill Whitbeck and drummer Tom Van Schaik. 

The event is open to the public and a limited number of tickets are on sale at acltv.com/hall-of-fame.  Sponsor packages are available at acltv.com/hall-of-fame. All proceeds benefit Austin PBS. 

Austin City Limits celebrates 50 years as a live music beacon with a yearlong milestone celebration beginning in 2024: on October 17, 1974, Willie Nelson taped the pilot episode and the trailblazing series premiered in 1975. Stay tuned for news on special concerts, fan events and activations as Austin City Limits salutes an incredible legacy of 50 golden years of American musical history and iconic performances. 

Since its inception in 2014, the annual ACL Hall of Fame celebration honors the legendary artists who helped to build the legacy of the trailblazing music series as it nears a remarkable half-century milestone as a music institution. The inaugural awards honored Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan. The ninth class of inductees features two legendary acts: Multiple GRAMMY®, CMA® and ACM® Award-winner Trisha Yearwood debuted on the series in Season 17 in 1992. She went on to make two additional headlining appearances in 1996 and 2000 and returned in Season 41 in 2015 as a guest of Don Henley. The late singer-songwriter John Prine appeared regularly on ACL throughout his celebrated five-decade career. Prine made his first Austin City Limits appearance in 1978, in the third season of the nascent show, and returned for his eighth and final appearance forty years later in Season 44 in 2018. The influential artist appeared on a Songwriters Special in 1983 alongside peers including Guy Clark and Rodney Crowell, and made headlining appearances in 1988, 1992 and 1996; and in 2002 appeared as a special guest of Bonnie Raitt. Austin City Limits saluted Prine with a posthumous retrospective hour in 2020, which aired as the season premiere of Season 46 and highlighted classic gems from his catalog.

Established in 2014, the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame celebrates the legacy of legendary artists and key individuals who have played a vital part in the pioneering music series remarkable nearly half-century as a music institution. The Hall of Fame has inducted over twenty artists at eight previous ceremonies including Willie Nelson, Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, Lloyd Maines, Asleep at the Wheel, Loretta Lynn, Guy Clark, Flaco Jiménez, Townes Van Zandt, Kris Kristofferson, Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King, Roy Orbison, Rosanne Cash, The Neville Brothers, Ray Charles, Marcia Ball, Los Lobos, Lyle Lovett, Buddy Guy, Shawn Colvin, Lucinda Williams, Wilco and Alejandro Escovedo. The eighth annual Hall of Fame in 2022 welcomed Sheryl Crow and Joe Ely to its ranks. 

Austin City Limits 9th Annual Hall of Fame is produced by Austin PBS and funding is provided in part by AXS Ticketing.

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Featured Hall of Fame News

ACL announces Hall of Fame 2023 guest performers

Austin City Limits (ACL) announces an all-star slate of guest performers and presenters for the 2023 ACL Hall of Fame Inductions & Celebration on October 26, 2023, recognizing two beacons of American music: celebrated country superstar Trisha Yearwood and late, beloved singer-songwriter John Prine. All-star guests will handle induction honors on this epic night: Don Henley will induct Trisha Yearwood; renowned actor Ethan Hawke will induct John Prine posthumously. A parade of music luminaries including Henley, Jo Dee Messina, Ronnie Dunn, Tyler Childers, Allison Russell, Kurt Vile and Tommy Prine will take part in saluting the honorees with one-of-a-kind music performances and intimate tributes. 

The inductees will be honored at a star-studded ceremony at ACL’s studio home, ACL Live at The Moody Theater in downtown Austin. Austin City Limits 9th Annual Hall of Fame is produced by Austin PBS. Additional special guests will be announced prior to the event. Musical highlights and inductions from the celebration will air as a pair of companion Austin City Limits Hall of Fame Honors installments dedicated to each inductee, set to air in January 2024 on PBS.

Don Henley. Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images.

Co-founder of the Eagles Don Henley, will induct his longtime friend Trisha Yearwood and perform in tribute. Yearwood and Henley performed together during his ACL debut in 2015 in Season 41. Country greats Jo Dee Messina and Ronnie Dunn will also pay homage with salutes; additionally, Yearwood is slated to perform at the celebration. Renowned actor and Austin native Ethan Hawke will induct John Prine, who passed away in 2020. A stellar slate of artists will take the stage to pay tribute in song to their friend, mentor and inspiration: acclaimed singer-songwriter Tyler Childers, who performed with Prine during his final ACL taping in 2018 for Season 44; Americana great Allison Russell; and singer, songwriter and guitar ace Kurt Vile. John’s son, singer-songwriter Tommy Prine, will perform in honor of his father.

Ethan Hawke. Photo by Francois Berthier.

ACL Hall of Famer, renowned steel guitarist and producer Lloyd Maines, returns as Music Director, leading the ACL All-Stars house band featuring guitarist David Grissom, keyboardist Chris Gage, bassist Bill Whitbeck and drummer Tom Van Schaik. 

Jo Dee Messina. Photo by John Zocco.

The event is open to the public and a limited number of tickets are on sale at acltv.com/hall-of-fame.  Sponsor packages are available at acltv.com/hall-of-fame. All proceeds benefit Austin PBS. 

Allison Russell. Photo by Dana Trippe.

Austin City Limits celebrates 50 years as a live music beacon with a yearlong milestone celebration beginning in October 2024: on October 17, 1974, Willie Nelson taped the pilot episode and the trailblazing series premiered in 1975. Stay tuned for news on special concerts, fan events and activations as Austin City Limits salutes an incredible legacy of 50 golden years of American musical history and iconic performances. 

Ronnie Dunn. Photo by Jim Arndt.

Since its inception in 2014, the annual ACL Hall of Fame celebration honors the legendary artists who helped to build the legacy of the trailblazing music series as it nears a remarkable half-century milestone as a music institution. The inaugural awards honored Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan. The ninth class of inductees features two legendary acts: Multiple GRAMMY®, CMA® and ACM® Award-winner Trisha Yearwood debuted on the series in Season 17 in 1992. She went on to make two additional headlining appearances in 1996 and 2000 and returned in Season 41 in 2015 as a guest of Don Henley. The late singer-songwriter John Prine appeared regularly on ACL throughout his celebrated five-decade career. Prine made his first Austin City Limits appearance in 1978, in the third season of the nascent show, and returned for his eighth and final appearance forty years later in Season 44 in 2018. The influential artist appeared on a Songwriters Special in 1983 alongside peers including Guy Clark and Rodney Crowell, and made headlining appearances in 1988, 1992 and 1996; and in 2002 appeared as a special guest of Bonnie Raitt. Austin City Limits saluted Prine with a posthumous retrospective hour in 2020, which aired as the season premiere of Season 46 and highlighted classic gems from his catalog.

Kurt Vile. Photo by Adam Wallacavage.

Established in 2014, the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame celebrates the legacy of legendary artists and key individuals who have played a vital part in the pioneering music series remarkable nearly half-century as a music institution. The Hall of Fame has inducted over twenty artists at eight previous ceremonies including Willie Nelson, Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, Lloyd Maines, Asleep at the Wheel, Loretta Lynn, Guy Clark, Flaco Jiménez, Townes Van Zandt, Kris Kristofferson, Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King, Roy Orbison, Rosanne Cash, The Neville Brothers, Ray Charles, Marcia Ball, Los Lobos, Lyle Lovett, Buddy Guy, Shawn Colvin, Lucinda Williams, Wilco and Alejandro Escovedo. The eighth annual Hall of Fame in 2022 welcomed Sheryl Crow and Joe Ely to its ranks. 

Austin City Limits 9th Annual Hall of Fame is produced by Austin PBS and funding is provided in part by AXS Ticketing.

Tyler Childers. Photo by Sam Waxman.

Austin City Limits Hall of FameIn 2014, Austin PBS, KLRU-TV — creator and producer of the legendary PBS show Austin City Limits — established the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame to recognize legendary musicians and key individuals who have been instrumental in making television’s longest-running popular music show an institution. Each year a new class of honorees are inducted and celebrated at a live event taped to air on PBS. It is also a historical archive, educational resource and celebration of Austin City Limits —telling the story of the show through photos, a timeline/anthology mural and in the near future, an interactive database of vintage Austin City Limits performances and video footage of interviews, behind-the-scenes and never before seen performances throughout the decades. Honorees to-date include Willie Nelson, Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, Lloyd Maines, Asleep at the Wheel, Loretta Lynn, Flaco Jiménez, Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, Bonnie Raitt, Kris Kristofferson, B.B. King, Rosanne Cash, The Neville Brothers, Roy Orbison, Marcia Ball, Ray Charles, Los Lobos, Lyle Lovett, Shawn Colvin, Buddy Guy, Lucinda Williams, Wilco, Alejandro Escovedo, Joe Ely and Sheryl Crow.

Tommy Prine. Photo by Emma Delevante.