George Strait & Alan Jackson Sing “Murder on Music Row” One Last Time
Alan Jackson held what will very likely be his final ever full concert at Nissan Stadium in Nashville Saturday night (6-27). The event featured many special guest appearances, tributes, and video messages saying farewell to one of the greatest to ever do it. Though all of those that showed up to pay tribute to Alan deserve credit, perhaps no name was bigger and more anticipated than long-time friend and sometimes duet partner, “King” George Strait.
For a second, there was a question of Strait would even appear at the final concert. When the initial lineup for the show was announced, and subsequent lineup revelations came out, Strait was not there. But he was finally added in late May, and Strait ended up singing not one, but two songs with Alan Jackson.
George Strait came out singing the second verse to the song “Designated Drinker,” the other duet the two country legends released together in 2002 that despite not becoming a big radio hit, has become a beloved tune to fans of both performers.
After the song, the two men reminisced on stage for a bit.
“I brought you a jack water,” George Strait said to Alan, with Jackson responding, “You’re a real designated drinker.”
“I’m just paying back the favor for when you did this for me at the ‘Cowboy Rides Away’ night. You remember that?,” Strait said.
“I do. [One of the] highlights of my life,” Alan Jackson said about the June 2014 concert at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.
“Me too.” George Strait responded. “Thanks for doing it. It’s so great to be here with the legend Alan Jackson. I just want to say, this cowboy rode back in. So we got some hope for Alan. We hope you ride back in too.”
But Alan Jackson just might not be in the physical condition to do so even if he wanted. In September of 2021, Alan Jackson revealed that he’s been suffering from a degenerative nerve condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. The disease is not life threatening, nor does it affect longevity. But CMT does significantly affect coordination, which has restricted Alan Jackson’s ability to perform.
During his final concert, at times Alan Jackson was sitting on a stool, or propping up himself against it. When he walked off the stage to the final applause with fireworks going off behind the stage, he had to hold onto the shoulder of someone to make it off. This is the reason Jackson is calling it quits, though says he’s still open to making one-off appearances or performances, and perhaps recording more music.
But he wasn’t going to make it off stage one final time without performing the CMA-winning country protest song “Murder on Music Row” with King George. Perhaps the most iconic song speaking out against how the country industry bleeds roots, twang, and soul from the music, it has been a gem of the careers of both artists, and was one of the highlights from Alan Jackson’s final bow. They couldn’t help but take one final parting shot across the bow of Music Row.
Fans will hopefully be able to see both performances featuring George Strait and Alan Jackson in full when NBC broadcasts a television special taped at the final concert some time later this year.
June 28, 2026 @ 12:11 pm
I love them! And I love this song! <3Thank You, Trig!
June 28, 2026 @ 12:45 pm
I was there and the song really hit hard. Alan’s band is first rate. The highlight for me was the nostalgic walk I took when he performed “Remember When.”
June 28, 2026 @ 1:44 pm
Must have been an awesome night. Im hopeful that there is eventuaaly a dvd of the whole thing, i figure nbc will edit a lot. Im interested in eric churchs acoustic version of someday. Regardless ill watch it all. Alan jackson was the last artist i really followed extensively. I hope to hear more music and i wish him well in his retirement from the road.
June 28, 2026 @ 2:28 pm
Duet album, please!
June 28, 2026 @ 4:51 pm
I remember that when “Like Red On a Rose” came out, it underperformed, but it’s one of my all-time favorite albums ever made. I hope one day that it will be remembered for the classic that it is.
June 29, 2026 @ 7:12 am
Loved “Like Red On A Roses.” It didn’t sound like anything AJ ever put out,but at same time…Swoon. haha Sorry, not sorry.
June 28, 2026 @ 6:34 pm
The first two clips I viewed on social media this morning were artists performing “Pop a Top” and “It Must Be Love.” Nothing says tribute concert like playing a song the honoree covered. Especially, when an artist has such a deep catalog like Alan Jackson.
Sometimes a cover becomes that artists song like “Little Bitty” or maybe if I squint real hard “Who’s Cheatin’ Who?” but not those songs taken from that artist’s cover album.
June 28, 2026 @ 11:59 pm
@hop–The evening and the guest artist performances were all mapped out .
I commented here last week that it would be somewhat bizarre if the guests were to sing Jackson’s iconic hits like “Chattahoochie” and then Jackson would come out and “re-sing” them to an audience that had just heard the songs performed.
Sounds like Jackson, himself made the decision that he would not perform those cover songs–“Pop a Top” and “It Must Be Love”– on this night, leaving them “available” for the guest artists to sing.
Anyway, Jim Ed Brown’s name and his songs have not remained in the public eyes and ears for the last three-plus decades, a-la Merle Haggard or Johnny Cash. Probably, few contemporary country fans have heard Jim Ed’s classic recording of “Pop a Top.” To most viewers of the concert, the song evokes Alan Jackson.
June 29, 2026 @ 9:48 am
I really don’t care about the fans reaction to a covered song. I think it had to be odd for Alan Jackson to hear a song he didn’t write or have a huge success with being played at his tribute concert.
I saw a clip of Luke Bryan covering “Little Bitty” and that made sense. “Little Bitty” was the lead single from a studio album that went #1.
“Pop a Top” and “It Must Be Love” were from a Jackson covers album – probably recorded to fill a label obligation during a slow creative time in Jackson career.
Jackson’s catalog is so deep there could have been 50 other songs played at his tribute concert which wouldn’t have overlap with Jackson’s setlist. Those covers felt lazy and uninspired.
June 29, 2026 @ 8:57 am
One of those shows I would would love to have been at. Jackson is one of those artists I have not seen in concert. I saw Strait a very long time ago.
June 29, 2026 @ 10:20 am
Legends
June 29, 2026 @ 3:19 pm
I was there and it was my 4th AJ concert and so so good. Its so sad this is it for him….his voice is still strong as ever. Everything was great and you could feel the emotions of the night. Wish him the best. Highlight night forever.
June 29, 2026 @ 5:45 pm
I was listening to my alan playlist on spotify and saw a video of his the older i get. Didnt even realize he had put out a video for that.pretty good video if one hasnt seen it.
June 30, 2026 @ 8:04 am
May ARISTA record producer Clyde Davis who passed away on June 22nd, 2026 in his home in New York Rest in eternal peace, amen. Wishing Alan Jackson a healthy retirement. Thanks for the memories. God bless.
June 30, 2026 @ 3:33 pm
“Murder On Music Row” is definitely the anthem for our times! Truer words were never sung!