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Austin City Limits Announces New Season 52 Tapings

ACL TV Season 52 Taping graphic

Austin City Limits is thrilled to announce a stellar slate of upcoming tapings for Season 52, featuring several highly-anticipated ACL debuts alongside a returning favorite. On May 19, breakout star and Dripping Springs native Ty Myers makes his ACL debut, performing hits and highlights from his newly released sophomore album Heavy On The Soul. Acclaimed singer-songwriter S.G. Goodman takes the ACL stage for the first time on May 26 with selections from her latest release Planting by the Signs. On June 9, Grammy-nominated R&B star Ari Lennox brings highlights from her acclaimed album Vacancy. Celebrated Colombian singer-songwriter Sebastián Yatra, a Latin Grammy-winner and Grammy nominee, makes his ACL debut on June 22, with songs from his Milagro. And on July 2, bluegrass superstar Billy Strings returns for his second headlining ACL appearance with highlights from his 2026 Grammy-winning Bluegrass Album of the Year, Highway Prayers.

Hailed “the next face of Country music” by Rolling Stone and “a generational talent” by No Depression, singer-songwriter-guitarist Ty Myers is rapidly emerging as one of the genre’s most exciting new voices. Myers created a viral buzz with his debut, “Tie That Binds” in 2023, and his widely-acclaimed 2025 debut album The Select earned three RIAA certifications including his first Platinum hit with the Top 10-and-climbing Country radio single “Ends of the Earth.” His newly released sophomore album, Heavy On The Soul (RECORDS Nashville/Columbia), channels the Southern rock, soul, and blues that shaped his musical foundation, raised just outside Austin in Dripping Springs, where his family has operated a cattle ranch for more than six generations. Myers recorded the new album at the legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama—home to classic recordings by iconic artists including Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding. Produced by Brandon Hood, Heavy On The Soul features a top-tier lineup of session players, including guitarist Tom Bukovac (Glen Campbell, Vince Gill) and steel guitarist Bruce Bouton (George Strait, Emmylou Harris). Eleven of the album’s seventeen songs are written solely by Myers, marking a next chapter for the young artist with standout tracks including “Message to You,” “Leaving Carolina,” “Through a Screen,” “Come On Over, Baby,” along with “Two Trains,” featuring Marcus King. With more than 1.4 billion global streams to date—boasting over 20 million global streams per week—Myers continues to build remarkable momentum. His breakthrough single “Ends of the Earth” alone has surpassed 270 million global streams, while earlier hit “Drinkin’ Alone” earned Gold certification with more than 135 million streams. Myers has sparked heartthrob-level pandemonium on the road, generating enormous fan demand including the sold-out 73-date The Select Tour in 2025. He’s currently supporting Luke Combs on his stadium tour—and makes his Stagecoach debut in April — following previous opening runs with artists including Randy Rogers Band, Wade Bowen, Old Dominion, Tim McGraw, and Willie Nelson. Having just turned 18, Myers launches his aptly named The Legal Tour this summer, a major headlining run beginning June 11. He has been featured in Rolling Stone, the Austin American-Statesman, and the Los Angeles Times, named Billboard’s Country Rookie of the Month and included on its prestigious 21 Under 21 all-genre list. Myers has also earned “Artist to Watch” recognition from GRAMMY.com, Vevo, Pandora, Spotify, and Apple Music, which named him its Country Riser of the Month.

S.G. Goodman returns from the Western Kentucky bottomlands with Planting by the Signs, her first release on her own Slough Water Records via Thirty Tigers. Recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the album takes its name from an ancient farming tradition still practiced in parts of the South, where the position of the moon as it moves through the signs of the zodiac determines the best time to plant crops and tend the land. By early 2023, Goodman’s star was rising faster than at any point since the release of her 2020 solo debut, Old Time Feeling. Following an extensive post-pandemic run opening for Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, she was named Emerging Artist of the Year at the 2023 Americana Honors & Awards. Her audience grew even wider when fellow Kentucky native Tyler Childers recorded a moving cover of her song “Space and Time” for his 2023 album Rustin’ in the Rain, introducing Goodman’s songwriting to a new generation of listeners. The concept for Planting by the Signs emerged from Goodman’s rural Kentucky upbringing and her rediscovery of the practice while reading the classic Appalachian guide Foxfire. She remembered lessons from childhood—that planting a garden, weaning a baby, or even getting a haircut are best timed in accordance with the cycles of the moon. In revisiting the tradition, Goodman found a framework that stood in stark contrast to the fast-paced, technology-driven culture surrounding her, offering a lens through which to reflect on connection, balance, and humanity’s relationship with the natural world. Personal loss also shaped the album’s creation. In a two-week span in 2023, Goodman lost her beloved dog and longtime friend Mike Harmon—a mentor and father figure referenced in her early song “Red Bird Morning.” The grief left her searching for grounding and ultimately led to a renewed creative partnership with longtime collaborator and guitarist Matthew Rowan. Goodman, Rowan, and co-producer Drew Vandenberg decamped to the historic Nutt House in Sheffield, Alabama, where they began recording the album in fall 2024. Composed of eleven songs shaped by love, loss and reconciliation, Planting by the Signs showcases Goodman’s singular voice and her signature blend of vulnerable folk music and punchy rock ‘n roll, layered with chiming guitars, ethereal atmospherics, and her DIY ethos. Goodman explores timeless traditions while offering a powerful reminder of humanity’s enduring conection to nature—and to one another.

Ari Lennox is soul in its purest form—fearless, radiant, and singular. Hailing from Washington, D.C., the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter has built a career defined by emotional honesty, vocal excellence, and unwavering artistic integrity. Her latest album, Vacancy, recorded over three years and executive produced by longtime collaborator Elite, marks a confident new chapter in her artistry. The project finds Lennox embracing growth and self-assurance, upping the emotional depth and perspective that have defined her work. She steps fully into her “Soft Girl Era,” not as a reinvention, but as a refinement. Lennox co-wrote every track on the album, further cementing her reputation as a gifted songwriter with a distinctive artistic voice. The Guardian hails Vacancy “the R&B sophisticate’s loosest and most fun outing yet,” raving, “Lennox balances jazz-soaked tradition with flashes of unruly humor and a surefire viral hit.” Known for her powerhouse live performances, Lennox has captivated audiences from major festival stages to her sold-out 2023 headlining tour, which moved nearly 90,000 tickets worldwide. Recent highlights include multiple sold-out nights alongside Robert Glasper during his Blue Note residency in Los Angeles, and a featured performance at EBONY’s star-studded 80th Anniversary Power 100 Gala. Lennox first captured global attention with her 2019 debut Shea Butter Baby, a modern R&B classic which produced the platinum-certified title track and “BMO,” along with Gold-certified fan favorites “Whipped Cream” and “Up Late.” The album earned her a Grammy nomination and honors from the Soul Train Awards and NAACP Image Awards, firmly establishing her as one of the contemporary R&B’s most compelling voices. In 2021, she reached new heights with the chart-topping single “Pressure,” her first solo entry on the Billboard Hot 100. Across each release—including her celebrated 2022 album age/sex/location, praised by Rolling Stone as an “R&B gem”—Lennox has distinguished herself as both a dynamic vocalist and a songwriter whose music resonates with clarity and truth.

Few artists in contemporary Latin music balance global pop ambition with emotional intimacy as effortlessly as Sebastián Yatra. The Latin Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated Colombian-American singer-songwriter has become one of the defining voices of modern Latin pop, blending romantic balladry, reggaeton rhythms, and melodic storytelling into songs that resonate with audiences worldwide. With more than 40 billion global streams and a vast international following, Yatra has built a career marked by sincerity, versatility, and an instinct for timeless pop songwriting. Born in Medellín and raised in Miami, Yatra broke through at just 19 with the 2013 hit “El Psicólogo,” quickly establishing himself as a rising star across Latin America. Global recognition soon followed with the smash single “Traicionera,” launching a string of hits and setting the stage for his 2018 debut album Mantra, which topped Billboard’s Latin Pop Albums chart and featured the acclaimed collaboration “Robarte un Beso” with Colombian icon Carlos Vives. Yatra’s sophomore album Fantasía (2019) showcased his gift for romantic pop songwriting and earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Pop Album. In 2022, Yatra reached new creative heights with Dharma, a chart-topping album featuring collaborations with Daddy Yankee, Rauw Alejandro, and Aitana. The project earned him two Latin Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Song for the global hit “Tacones Rojos.” Yatra’s artistry has also extended beyond the recording studio. His performance of “Dos Oruguitas” from Disney blockbuster Encanto earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song and made history as Yatra performed the Spanish-language song live at the Oscars. In 2024, he expanded into acting with a celebrated turn as Billy Flynn in the Broadway production of Chicago. A charismatic and magnetic artist, Yatra has landed on the covers of international editions of Vogue, Vanity Fair, GQ, ELLE and Rolling Stone. His fourth studio album Milagro (Miracle), delivered a trio of standouts—“Los Domingos,” “2AM,” and “La Pelirroja”—with each song designed to reflect a different emotional “miracle.” As an in-demand collaborator, Yatra continues to explore new musical terrain alongside acclaimed Latin artists in recent releases including, “Canción para Regresar,” “LA FKN VIBRA,” and “Cucaracheo,” reaffirming his place as one of Latin music’s most expansive and globally influential artists.

Three-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and musician Billy Strings returns to the ACL stage following another landmark year. His latest full-length album, Highway Prayers was recently named Best Bluegrass Album at the 2026 Grammy Awards, marking his second consecutive win in the category and third overall. Produced by Strings and Jon Brion (Fiona Apple, Mac Miller, Aimee Mann) and released via Reprise Records, the album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s all-genre Top Album Sales chart, the first bluegrass album to achieve the feat in more than two decades. The record has drawn widespread acclaim, with GQ calling Strings “the hottest roots-music phenomenon in decades” and Pitchfork praising, “the bluegrass wunderkind expands his palette, exploring new textures and emotional registers while staying true to his beloved genre.” Following Highway Prayers, Strings released an exclusive Apple Music Nashville Sessions EP featuring reworked songs from the record as well as the surprise collaborative album Live at the Legion with bluegrass virtuoso Bryan Sutton. Recorded live at Nashville’s American Legion Post 82, the project captures the duo performing 20 traditional bluegrass and folk songs, including new renditions of Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” and Doc Watson’s “Way Downtown.” Born in Michigan and now based in Nashville, Strings has emerged as the genre’s new superstar, blending bluegrass traditions with influences from rock, jazz and psychedelia. Since his 2017 debut, he has received numerous accolades, including Best Bluegrass Album at the 63rd, 67th and 68th Grammy Awards, Artist of the Year at the 2022 and 2023 Americana Music Awards, Entertainer of the Year at the International Bluegrass Music Awards in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025, and Pollstar Awards’ Breakthrough Artist of the Pandemic in 2021 and Best New Headliner in 2022. An electrifying live performer, Strings is currently in the midst of an extensive headline arena tour throughout 2026 and will join Willie Nelson for his annual Fourth of July picnic this summer. He made his ACL debut in Season 47 (2021), and returned for the series’ 50th Anniversary celebration in 2024. ACL is thrilled to welcome him back to the stage

Want to be part of the audience? Information on how to obtain free passes will be posted one week prior to each taping. Follow @acltv on IG, Facebook and X for updates. Broadcast episodes will air and stream on PBS as part of Austin City Limits’ upcoming Season 52; previous seasons are available to stream online anytime or on the free PBS App.

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ACL Season 52 Taping Pass Giveaway: Miguel

Taping pass giveaway graphic for Miguel on Austin City Limits

*Update: Giveaway Now Closed* Austin City Limits kicks off Season 52 with Miguel on Thursday, March 19 at 8 pm at ACL Live at The Moody Theater (310 W. 2nd Street, Willie Nelson Blvd). Austin City Limits Taping Giveaways are presented by AXS Events.

Winners will be chosen at random and a photo ID will be required to pick up tickets. Winners will be notified via email. Duplicate entries for a single taping will be automatically voided. Tickets are not transferable and will be voided if sold. Standing may be required. No photography, recording or cell phone use in the studio. No cameras, computers or recording devices allowed in the venue. While we do our best to accommodate all winners, we cannot guarantee admission. These passes are based on space available therefore you will be filling in spots available on the floor or balcony depending on the tickets that are available when you arrive. Read our helpful Know Before You Go guide for more information.

With a voice that transcends genres and generations, multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning artist Miguel emerged in the 2010’s as a trailblazer who expanded the boundaries of R&B, earning widespread acclaim and chart-topping hits. Los Angeles-raised, with Black and Latino roots, the singer-songwriter—born Miguel Jontel Pimentel—remains a magnetic performer and one of the most adventurous voices in contemporary R&B. His 2012 breakthrough Kaleidoscope Dream fused rock, soul, and psychedelia into a freewheeling sound, delivering the smash “Adorn,” a crossover hit that dominated culture and earned the Grammy Award for Song of the Year. A testament to the timeless appeal of his music, Miguel’s 2010 classic “Sure Thing” went viral more than a decade after its release, becoming a massive hit for a new generation. Now Miguel returns with CAOS, his fifth studio album and first new album in eight years. In a career defined by innovation and soul, CAOS stands as his most vulnerable and timely work to date. 


“This is an album about searching for meaning as you try your best to process a world on fire,” raves Rolling Stone. Emerging from years marked by personal and global turbulence, Miguel offers his clearest vision yet, exploring grief, heartache, fatherhood, love, sex, and identity with striking candor. “The past eight years have been so unpredictable—and for lack of a better word, chaotic—in terms of having any kind of guarantees or semblance of normalcy,” he reflects. “Whether it’s a global pandemic or a new election, our beliefs overall have been challenged.” Miguel enlisted an A-list group of collaborators to help shape CAOS, including Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio; Ray Brady (b.k.a. RRReymundo), known for work with Kilo Kish, Santigold, and Vince Staples; and Grammy Award-winning producer Jeff Bhasker, whose credits span Harry Styles, Kanye West, and Lana Del Rey. Intentionally sequenced, the album unfolds as an emotional journey through the ebbs and flows of Miguel’s life. “El Pleito,” (“the fight”) draws deeply from his Mexican heritage, as Miguel sings in Spanish to address the immigrant experience, while “Angel’s Song” reflects on fatherhood and the hopes and fears he holds for his newborn son. Tracks such as “The Killing,” “RIP,” “New Martyrs,” and “Triggered” confront our current landscape of fear and violence, while the album’s closer, “COMMA/KARMA,” offers a searching meditation on peace amid the storm. Revealing and revelatory, CAOS marks a powerful return for Miguel—one that’s been a long time coming, and proves he’s back with purpose.

Miguel made a soaring ACL debut in Season 44 in 2018 and we’re thrilled to have him back on the ACL stage.

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Austin City Limits Partners with 2026 Luck Reunion for ACL Artist Lounge 

vintage postcard featuring car on country road with road sign "Austin City Limits"

Austin and Luck, Texas—The renowned live music television series  Austin City Limits (ACL) will travel to Luck, Texas on March 19 for a first-ever collaboration with Luck Reunion, the annual gathering founded by Willie Nelson on his property each year. Two Texas institutions with a shared history and a deep commitment to showcasing trailblazing artists, ACL is proud to bring the spirit of Austin City Limits to Willie’s backyard. 

Rooted in a mutual passion for authentic, eclectic music, the collaboration strengthens ACL’s ties to the creative community while expanding its presence beyond Austin’s city limits. As part of the activation, ACL will debut the Austin City Limits Artist Lounge, a dedicated space offering the ACL experience exclusively to Luck Reunion artists. 

Willie Nelson on Austin City Limits. Photo by Scott Newton.

“Our story began with Willie Nelson on the Austin City Limits stage in 1974, and that connection remains central to who we are. Luck Reunion carries that same independent, Texas-born spirit, making this partnership both natural and meaningful. Austin City Limits has always championed artists and preserved a stage for authentic music discovery. As a community-supported public media organization, we’re excited to bring that shared spirit to Luck this year,” Luis Patiño, president and CEO of Austin PBS, said.

Designed as an intimate artist hub, ACL Artist Lounge will be outfitted by Sheila Youngblood, owner and creator of Round Top, Texas’s esteemed creative retreat Rancho Pillow, whose signature aesthetic will transform the space into a welcoming, one-of-a-kind gathering place within the Luck artist area. Fondly known as “the house that Willie built,” ACL embraces the outpost’s nostalgic, lived-in feel—evoking a throwback living room and nodding to the many artists who have remarked that their earliest memories of Austin City Limits were formed watching performances around the family television set.

The lounge will feature a vintage television playing classic ACL episodes alongside retro living room touches, including an old-school phone. Artists are invited to leave a favorite Austin City Limits memory or share early birthday wishes for ACL patron saint Willie Nelson ahead of his 93rd birthday on April 29th. The space will serve as a lively destination for artist interviews and informal conversations, inviting performers to connect, chat, and trade stories steeped in the shared lore of Luck and ACL in a relaxed setting.

Originally created to spotlight authentic Texas music and capture Austin’s burgeoning Cosmic Cowboy and Outlaw Country scenes of the early 1970s, Austin City Limits shares a deep, longstanding bond with Willie Nelson. The program was born more than 50 years ago when Willie taped the now-legendary 1974 pilot episode—an event that became the cornerstone of what would grow into the longest-running music series in television history. Willie has appeared on Austin City Limits nineteen times—more than any other performer —and was inducted into the inaugural ACL Hall of Fame in 2014; he most recently returned in 2024 to celebrate the show’s 50th Anniversary milestone with a historic outdoor concert in Austin. As Willie recently told Billboard: “Austin City Limits and PBS were and are an essential part of education, understanding, curiosity and empathy, which are the essentials and building blocks of humanity.”

Luck Reunion and Austin City Limits will also team up for the first time on a limited-edition merchandise collaboration, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Austin PBS, home of Austin City Limits. The capsule collection will debut exclusively at Luck Reunion’s flagship store in Spicewood, TX, with additional availability to follow at Austin’s Hotel Magdalena and online via Luck Presents. 

Austin PBS will also be onsite at Luck with a booth in the LFF Garden offering attendees photo opportunities featuring backdrops from beloved PBS series, including Mr. Rogers, Bob Ross and Sesame Street. Festivalgoers are invited to stop by, take photos, and learn more about how to support public media.  

Austin City Limits continues to honor its roots while evolving alongside the artists and audiences it serves. This partnership brings that legacy full circle, uniting two Austin originals that personify music’s freewheeling spirit and share a common mission: championing both outliers and legends, celebrating the authentic sounds of Texas and beyond, and supporting the values of public media. Austin City Limits recently announced the initial tapings of its upcoming Season 52, with all-new episodes premiering on PBS later this year.

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Austin City Limits Announces Initial Tapings of Season 52

February 23, 2026 – Austin City Limits (ACL) is proud to announce the initial tapings for its upcoming Season 52, spotlighting a dynamic slate of acclaimed and award-winning artists: Grammy Award-winner Miguel—who made an unforgettable ACL debut in Season 44 (2018)—returns to the ACL stage on March 19 in support of his latest album, CAOS.

ACL also welcomes a trio of acts making highly anticipated series debuts. The Oscar- and Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Ryan Bingham takes the stage on April 21 to preview new songs from his upcoming album They Call Us The Lucky Ones, joined by The Texas Gentlemen. On April 27, reigning CMA Awards Vocal Group of the Year and ACM Awards New Group of the Year, Southern rock standouts The Red Clay Strays bring swagger and arena-sized sound to the ACL stage with songs from their album Made by These Moments. Rounding out the initial tapings, celebrated Colombian superstar Carlos Vives delivers his big band and a career-spanning catalog of hits to Austin City Limits on May 5. 

“Season 52 marks an unprecedented new chapter in Austin City Limits’ 50-plus-year history,” says Executive Producer Terry Lickona. “We’re expanding our new season by adding five additional episodes, and for the first time, every artist will have their own full-hour program, deepening our commitment to presenting live music in its fullest form.” At a moment when national platforms for live music on television are rapidly disappearing, the role of Austin City Limits and public media has never been more vital. As late-night shows scale back or shutter entirely, artists are losing critical opportunities to reach new audiences, making discovery increasingly elusive—especially for emerging artists. Against this backdrop, the ACL stage remains a rare and essential platform, offering artists the creative freedom to deliver full-set, uncompromised performances and giving music fans everywhere a front-row seat to experience live music’s finest.

As an added highlight of the upcoming Season 52, the series’ studio home, ACL Live at the Moody Theater, will debut a large-scale mural installation, inviting show attendees to walk through Austin City Limits history as they enter. The immersive display features nearly two decades of iconic ACL taping posters, serving as a visual tribute to the artists and moments that have shaped the live music institution’s enduring legacy.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

With a voice that transcends genres and generations, multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning artist Miguel emerged in the 2010’s as a trailblazer who expanded the boundaries of R&B, earning widespread acclaim and chart-topping hits. Los Angeles-raised, with Black and Latino roots, the singer-songwriter—born Miguel Jontel Pimentel—remains a magnetic performer and one of the most adventurous voices in contemporary R&B. His 2012 breakthrough Kaleidoscope Dream fused rock, soul, and psychedelia into a freewheeling sound, delivering the smash “Adorn,” a crossover hit that dominated culture and earned the Grammy Award for Song of the Year. A testament to the timeless appeal of his music, Miguel’s 2010 classic “Sure Thing” went viral more than a decade after its release, becoming a massive hit for a new generation. Now Miguel returns with CAOS, his fifth studio album and first new album in eight years. In a career defined by innovation and soul, CAOS stands as his most vulnerable and timely work to date. “This is an album about searching for meaning as you try your best to process a world on fire,” raves Rolling Stone. Emerging from years marked by personal and global turbulence, Miguel offers his clearest vision yet, exploring grief, heartache, fatherhood, love, sex, and identity with striking candor. “The past eight years have been so unpredictable—and for lack of a better word, chaotic—in terms of having any kind of guarantees or semblance of normalcy,” he reflects. “Whether it’s a global pandemic or a new election, our beliefs overall have been challenged.” Miguel enlisted an A-list group of collaborators to help shape CAOS, including Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio; Ray Brady (b.k.a. RRReymundo), known for work with Kilo Kish, Santigold, and Vince Staples; and Grammy Award-winning producer Jeff Bhasker, whose credits span Harry Styles, Kanye West, and Lana Del Rey. Intentionally sequenced, the album unfolds as an emotional journey through the ebbs and flows of Miguel’s life. “El Pleito,” (“the fight”) draws deeply from his Mexican heritage, as Miguel sings in Spanish to address the immigrant experience, while “Angel’s Song” reflects on fatherhood and the hopes and fears he holds for his newborn son. Tracks such as “The Killing,” “RIP,” “New Martyrs,” and “Triggered” confront our current landscape of fear and violence, while the album’s closer, “COMMA/KARMA,” offers a searching meditation on peace amid the storm. Revealing and revelatory, CAOS marks a powerful return for Miguel—one that’s been a long time coming, and proves he’s back with purpose. Miguel made a soaring ACL debut in Season 44 in 2018 and we’re thrilled to have him back on the ACL stage.

Texas musician Ryan Bingham is a Grammy, Oscar, Golden Globe, and Critics’ Choice Award-winning singer-songwriter and actor whose raw, world-weary voice and evocative storytelling have made him one of the most distinctive artists of his generation. From his early years as a drifter and bull rider to penning the Academy Award-winning song “The Weary Kind” for the film Crazy Heart, Bingham has built a career defined by authenticity and artistic independence. His music—spanning folk, blues, country, and rock—reflects a life fully lived, blending grit, vulnerability, and resilience in equal measure. His first full-length project since 2019, They Call Us The Lucky Ones, is set for release on May 15; the record marks his seventh studio album since his seminal debut, 2007’s Mescalito. They Call Us The Lucky Ones is his first with The Texas Gentlemen, the all-star collective of players from the Lone Star State. Of the namesake track “Ballad of The Texas Gentlemen,” Bingham shares, “After years of being out on my own and playing shows on and off with The Texas Gentlemen, I realized somewhere along the way I was part of a band again without really planning it. ‘Ballad of The Texas Gentlemen’ really came out of that moment – just being back out on the road with people you trust and remembering why you fell in love with playing music in the first place.” Across the album’s 10 tracks, including “The Lucky Ones” and “Americana,” Bingham reflects on the highs and lows of an artist’s life on the road and his newfound sense of joy and hope, all framed by the unique genre-defying sound he and the band create together. “This album was probably the most fun I’ve had making a record,” Bingham reflects. “I’ve always loved records that feel loose and live and gritty with a bit of soul, where the imperfections from the moment are left in. Working with musicians as talented as The Texas Gentlemen really let us lean into that in a way I hadn’t experienced before. There was an unspoken understanding between us about what each song needed, so we tracked most of it live with minimal overdubs, just playing and letting the feel lead. It finally felt like I was capturing these songs the way I always heard them in my head. We can’t wait to get out on the road and share them with fans.” In celebration of the new music, Bingham and The Texas Gentlemen will embark on their extensive “Still Gettin’ Away With It Tour” this spring. In addition to his acclaimed music career, Bingham starred as fan-favorite “Walker” on Paramount’s record-breaking series Yellowstone. 

A road-tested band that have carved their own lane musically, The Red Clay Strays are Brandon Coleman (lead vocals, guitar, keys), Drew Nix (electric guitar, vocals, harmonica), Zach Rishel (electric guitar), Andrew Bishop (bass), John Hall (drums), and Sevans Henderson (keys). Hailing from Mobile, Alabama, the Strays formed in 2016 and rocketed from club gigs to major stages on the strength of electrifying live shows and a soaring Southern rock sound. The Strays’ 2022 debut album, Moment of Truth, delivered the breakout single, “Wondering Why,” which propelled the band into the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs Chart and inside the top 20 of the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart. In 2024, the group signed to RCA Records and released their critically acclaimed sophomore album, Made by These Moments. Produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell), the album is filled with the band’s signature genre-blending sound, as they meld electric rock and roll with Southern soul. Rolling Stone hails the Strays “a blistering rock & roll band, one well on its way to revitalizing a certain brand of muscular Southern rock,” and Pollstar raves, “Their music is a familiar, yet fresh, energetic take on Southern rootsy rock music infused with hard rock energy.” Made by These Moments marked the band’s first entry into the Billboard 200 and debuted in the top 10 of the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart, earning the ‘Emerging Artist of the Year’ Award at the 2024 Americana Honors & Awards, their first Billboard Music Award win for Top Country Group, and the 2025 ACM Award win for New Duo or Group of the Year. They have also garnered consecutive CMA Award nominations for Vocal Group of the Year for 2024 and 2025, taking home the award at the 59th Annual CMA Awards. The band released their first live album, Live At The Ryman, recorded during their three-night stint at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville as part of their sold-out 2024 These Moments Tour. The group recently wrapped the North American and European legs of their sold-out global Get Right Tour, making notable stops at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, two nights at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and three nights at The Amphitheater at the Wharf in their home state of Alabama. In 2026, the band will perform at Stagecoach, Madison Square Garden, and two nights at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

With a career spanning more than three decades, two GRAMMY® Awards and 18 Latin GRAMMY® Awards, Carlos Vives stands as one of the most important figures in Spanish-language music and a pioneer of a new Latin American sound. Deeply connected to his Colombian roots, Vives drew from traditional vallenato to create a distinctive, modern, tropical style he famously dubbed “El rock de mi pueblo” (“The Rock of My People”)—allowing the vallenato spirit to transcend borders, languages, and cultures. In 1993, he founded his band La Provincia and the label Gaira Música Local, conceived as a tribute to rural and mestizo musicians of the Colombian Caribbean and as a creative laboratory for new talent. In subsequent years, Vives has cemented his status as one of the most influential cultural icons in Latin music. With more than 10 billion digital streams and 20 million albums sold worldwide, Vives has become an ambassador for Colombian music through iconic songs including “La Gota Fría,” “Pa’ Mayte,” “La Tierra del Olvido,” “Fruta Fresca,” and “Volví a Nacer.” The year 2026 marks a new era in his career with the release of El Último Disco (The Last Album), introduced by its lead single, “Te Dedico,” which signals a return to values that truly matter, such as romanticism and a more intimate way of connecting through music. The celebrated artist has received countless career accolades, including the Latin Recording Academy’s 2024 Person of the Year, and induction into the Billboard Latin Music Awards Hall of Fame in 2020, an honor reserved for artists with global impact who transcend genres and languages. His numerous lifetime achievement honors include the Icon Award at the Musa Awards, ASCAP’s Founders Award, the Legacy Award at the Latin American Music Awards, and multiple Billboard Awards, positioning him as one of the most distinguished and beloved Latin American artists of his generation. Over the past five years, Vives has performed more than 350 concerts, filling arenas and stadiums in over 25 countries. In 2024, he was honored at the Mexico City Wax Museum, where his likeness was unveiled alongside icons such as Frida Kahlo, Lady Gaga and Madonna. An in-demand collaborator, Vivos has worked with key figures in Ibero-American music including Shakira, Rubén Blades, Alejandro Sanz, Juanes, Marc Anthony, Sebastián Yatra, Luis Fonsi, and Camilo.

ACL is thrilled to welcome these singular acts to the stage. Want to be part of the audience? Information on how to obtain free passes will be posted one week prior to each taping. Follow @acltv on IG, Facebook and X for updates. Broadcast episodes will air and stream on PBS as part of Austin City Limits’ upcoming Season 52; previous seasons are available to stream online anytime or on the free PBS App.

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Austin City Limits salutes the winners of the 2026 Grammy Awards

Austin City Limits extends a hearty congratulations to the winners of last night’s 2026 Grammy Awards. Co-produced by ACL executive producer Terry Lickona, the 68th annual ceremony honored a wide variety of popular and lauded artists from all walks of musical life, including several of our distinguished alumni from our most recent Season 51, now streaming on PBS.

Huge congratulations to shining star Leon Thomas, who took home two Grammy awards – Best R&B Album for Mutt and Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Vibes Don’t Lie.” Jazz vocalist Samara Joy won for Best Jazz Vocal Album with her latest album Portrait, and ACL TV fan favorite Jon Batiste’s Big Money won for Best Americana Album.

Jon Batiste on ACL TV, Season 51 – Photo by Scott Newton

We’d also like to extend congratulations to all ACL TV alumni who won at the 68th annual GRAMMY Awards:

  • Record of the Year: Kendrick Lamar & SZA: “Luther”
  • Song of the Year: Billie Eilish: “Wildflower”
  • Best Contemporary Country Album: Jelly Roll: Beautifully Broken
  • Best Rap Album: Kendrick Lamar: GNX
  • Best Rap Song: Kendrick Lamar: “TV Off” [ft. Lefty Gunplay]
  • Best Melodic Rap Performance: Kendrick Lamar & SZA: “Luther”
  • Best Rap Performance: Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T & Malice: “Chains & Whips”
  • Best Rock Song: Nine Inch Nails: “As Alive as You Need Me to Be”
  • Best Latin Pop Album: Natalia Lafourcade: Cancionera
  • Best Música Mexicana Album (Including Tejano): Carín León: Palabra de To’s (Seca)
  • Best Musical Theater Album: Buena Vista Social Club
  • Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song: Brandon Lake & Jelly Roll: “Hard Fought Hallelujah”
  • Best Bluegrass Album: Billy Strings: Highway Prayers
  • Best Americana Performance: Mavis Staples: “Godspeed”
  • Best Traditional Blues Album: Buddy Guy: Ain’t Done With the Blues
  • Best American Roots Performance: Mavis Staples: “Beautiful Strangers”
  • Best Country Duo/Group Performance: Shaboozey & Jelly Roll: “Amen”
  • Best Country Solo Performance: Chris Stapleton: “Bad as I Used to Be”
  • Best Country Song: Tyler Childers: “Bitin’ List,” songwriter
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Featured News

RIP Music Legend Joe Ely

Joe Ely is a legend, whether you know it or not – even more so now that he’s left this mortal plane. The dynamic singer/songwriter died on Dec. 15, 2025 from complications of Lewy body dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and pneumonia. 

Born in Amarillo, bred in Lubbock, based in Austin and Taos, New Mexico, Ely somehow never became a household name, and that’s honestly a shock. He toured with the Clash. His pals include Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, Terry Allen, and some guy named Bruce Springsteen. Shock jock pioneer Don Imus loved his band the Flatlanders (with his best buds Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock) so much he pushed them at every opportunity, including offering major market radio stations $10K if they could get one of the band’s singles into the top 10. His genre-crossing early albums Joe Ely (1977) and Honky Tonk Masquerade mark him as as much of a pioneer of the music we call Americana as anyone. And he was such a powerhouse of a performer that Springsteen once declared, “Thank god he wasn’t from New Jersey. I would have had a lot more of my work cut out for me.” 

Of course, to Texans, and particularly to those of us who work for Austin City Limits, Ely was recognized as an icon – a maverick, genre-agnostic songwriter who gave performances that alternated between touching our hearts and melting down our cameras. Ely first appeared on the show in Season 5, backed by guitarist Jesse Taylor, accordionist Ponty Bone, and other members of the original Joe Ely Band that tore up stages all across the country. He next appeared in Season 10 for a fabled episode recorded on Halloween that found him surrounded by bizarre costumes and a crack backing group for a blazing performance that showed him to be one of the greatest live performers in the world. Ely would make another nine appearances on ACL: three more headlining shows; performances as part of the Flatlanders, the ensemble gathered for the Season 24 Mexican roots music episode, a singer/songwriter gang twang with Lovett, Hiatt, and Guy Clark, and in the 40th anniversary special; and guest appearances in episodes featuring Steve Earle, Ryan Bingham, and Kevin Welch. He appeared across forty years before being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022. 

Ely made a good two dozen records over the course of his career – gifts to his loyal audience. But his concerts were what made him the beloved figure he became. As documented on catalog classics Live Shots, Live at Liberty Lunch, and Live @ Antone’s, there were few musicians who could touch him. On a good night, the Ely Band could produce enough energy to light up a city. Even the Clash, on whose tour Ely recorded Live Shots, feared having to follow him. 

Joe Ely on Austin City Limits, Season 5.

In later years Ely concentrated more on his songwriting than stage-scorching shows, as his songs became more literate, reflective, and immediate over time. Even as his health became more frail, he continued producing albums full of them on his own Rack ‘em Records label – a sign that no medical difficulties were going to slow him down. He left this mortal coil boasting a musical legacy nearly unmatched by anyone in Texas or elsewhere. 

“Joe Ely came out of West Texas like a rocket and shook the ACL stage like nobody before or since,” notes ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “As far as we’re concerned, Joe was and will always be a superstar.” 

We’re proud to have showcased such a remarkable musician for forty years.