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.
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.
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 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.
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 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
April 4Austin 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.
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
(Bonnie Raitt)
Best Americana Performance:
“Don’t Do Me Good” — Madi Diaz Featuring Kacey Musgraves
(Kacey)
“Runaway Train” — Sarah Jarosz
“Empty Trainload Of Sky” — Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
(Gillian)
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
(Gillian)
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 (Olivia Rodrigo)
It Never Went Away [From “American Symphony”] — Jon Batiste & Dan Wilson, songwriters (Jon Batiste)
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 (The Avett Brothers)
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)
(Ray Charles)
Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella:
Bridge Over Troubled Water” — Jacob Collier, Tori Kelly & John Legend, arrangers (Jacob Collier Featuring John Legend & Tori Kelly)
(Jacob & John)
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)
Austin City Limits (ACL) spotlights a pair of sensational live acts, both 2024 Grammy Best New Artist nominees: Jelly Roll and The War And Treaty. First, in a much anticipated ACL debut, Grammy and CMA Awards-nominated Jelly Roll performs highlights from his chart-topping new album Beautifully Broken and his 2023 breakthrough Whitsitt Chapel. Then, celebrated husband-and-wife duo The War And Treaty, nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year at the upcoming CMA Awards, thrill with new songs and electrifying vocals in their return to the ACL stage. The new episode premieres Saturday, November 2 @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 kicks 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.
Jelly Roll on Austin City Limits. Photo by Scott Newton.
No other artist has dominated 2024 like Jelly Roll, and country music’s newest superstar keeps gathering accolades and milestones: his new LP Beautifully Broken has earned the Nashville-based phenomenon his first No. 1 Album. The reigning CMA New Artist of the Year, a 2024 nominee for the upcoming CMA Awards’ highest honor Entertainer of the Year, and a 2024 Grammy Best New Artist nominee, Jelly Roll has scored hit singles on the country, rock and pop charts. A singular artist, he creates chart-topping anthems about adversity, faith and redemption that resonate with fans across genres. Currently headlining a U.S. arena tour, Jelly Roll’s unique connection with audiences is evident in his magnetic ACL debut. Jelly delivers a six-song set featuring gems from his record-breaking debut country album Whitsitt Chapel including the megahit “Need A Favor” and the Grammy-nominated “Save Me”—a confessional, vulnerable expression of self-doubt that became a No. 1 smash. Backed by a seven-piece band, he showcases his powerful brand of southern-rock and hip-hop-inflected country performing highlights from the just-released Beautifully Broken. He shares his own struggle with mental health and addiction before launching into “I Am Not Okay,” inspiring the rapt audience to sing along.
The War And Treaty on Austin City Limits. Photo by Scott Newton.
Known for a live show that’s almost revival-like in its intensity, The War And Treaty has emerged as one of the most electrifying acts in American music. The Nashville-based partners/ collaborators Michael and Tanya Trotter garnered their first-ever Grammy nods in 2024, including the coveted Best New Artist, along with 2024 Duo of the Year nominations from the CMA Awards and the Academy of Country Music. The pair made their Austin City Limits debut in Season 46 in 2020 during the series’ limited-audience pandemic tapings, and they now return at the peak of their powers to light up the ACL stage, this time for a full audience. “Can we take you to church tonight?” asks Michael, and the two deliver a high-energy, exhilarating showcase of new songs, opening with the seductive country soul scorcher “Stealing A Kiss.” Tanya introduces the “country gospel” song “Blank Page” from their 2023 major label debut Lover’s Game, which earned them a 2024 Grammy nomination for Best American Roots Song. The dynamic partners bring the fireworks, thrilling the crowd with their staggering vocal power and onstage chemistry. The captivated ACL crowd hangs on to every lyric, offering multiple standing ovations throughout a stellar set.
“Country Music is enjoying a renaissance today like nothing that has come before, and Jelly Roll and The War And Treaty epitomize that better than anyone else,” said ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “Their stories, their songs, their voices represent a culture shift that is undeniable, and the ACL stage is the perfect place to showcase that to the world.”
Jelly Roll episode setlist:
The Lost
Son of a Sinner
Liar
Need A Favor
I Am Not Okay
Save Me
Save Me Reprise
The War And Treaty episode setlist:
Stealing A Kiss
Called You By Your Name
Blank Page
Leads Me Home
Season 50 Broadcast Line-Up (second half of season to be announced separately)
September 28Kacey Musgraves
October 5Gary Clark Jr. | Black Pumas
October 12Maggie Rogers | Gracie Abrams
October 19Jacob Collier | Nickel Creek
October 26Brittany Howard
November 2Jelly Roll | The War And Treaty
November 9Wynonna
November 16Juanes
2024 kicks off the 50th Anniversary of Austin City Limits, which taped its debut pilot episode with Willie Nelson on October 17, 1974; the pioneering series then premiered on PBS in 1975. That now legendary debut became the cornerstone for 50 years of groundbreaking, award-winning music television. ACL is proud to have Willie Nelson return on the 50th anniversary of the pilot taping to commemorate Austin City Limits’ remarkable half-century milestone with a Texas-sized outdoor concert that took place on October 17, 2024, at Austin’s Long Center. Musical highlights from the performance will air as a special hourlong broadcast of Austin City Limits on February 15, 2025 as a season highlight of the program’s golden anniversary Season 50.
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.
