The CMT Music Awards took over Nashville, Tennessee last night to celebrate country’s biggest stars. Gregg Allman was born in Nashville, and while his music was deeply rooted in blues rock, the Allman Brothers Band singer/songwriter/organist had enormous influence on country music as well. The CMT Music Awards opened with a tribute to Allman, who passed away less than two weeks ago.
For the opening number, Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley, Jason Aldean, Darius Rucker, and Derek Trucks performed a beautiful rendition of “Midnight Rider,” a Gregg Allman staple. The celebratory occasion also called for Trucks, who played guitar in the Allman Brothers Band from 1999-2014, to perform on Duane Allman‘s 1957 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop – the guitar Allman used to lay down the inimitable solo in “Layla” by Derek & The Dominoes. He played this majestic instrument through Duane Allman’s Fillmore East amplifier that Derek now owns.
Watch Charles Kelley, Jason Aldean, Darius Rucker, and Derek Trucks perform “Midnight Rider” at the 2017 CMT Awards below: