‘CMT Giants’ Preps Alabama Salute With Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley & More

Blake Shelton fires up a new collaboration with country veteran Steve Wariner, covering “Old Flame” on the Aug. 15 premiere of CMT Giants: Alabama, to air at 8 p.m./7 p.m. CT exclusively on CMT. 

A dozen artists — including Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean and Little Big Town — are slated for the special, paying homage to Country Music Hall of Fame group Alabama with live versions of the band’s classics. A rundown of the show, obtained exclusively by Billboard, also highlights performances by Alabama natives Jamey Johnson, Sam Hunt and Riley Green, who covers “Dixieland Delight,” a 1983 hit that has become a rallying cry for fans attending Crimson Tide football games.

Shelton’s collaboration with Wariner includes an appearance by Kara Britz, a supporting vocalist with Shelton’s road band.

Following is a list of the songs on tap for CMT Giants: Alabama, taped during an invitation-only concert at Belmont University’s Fisher Center in Nashville:

Alabama – “Mountain Music,” “My Home’s in Alabama”
Jason Aldean – “Love in the First Degree”
Riley Green – “Dixieland Delight”
Sam Hunt – “Song of the South”
Jamey Johnson – “Angels Among Us”
Little Big Town – “The Closer You Get”
Old Dominion – “Roll On”
Brad Paisley – “Old Alabama”
Blake Shelton with Steve Wariner and Kara Britz – “Old Flame”
Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan – “Feels So Right”

Additionally, artists and celebrities including Luke Bryan, Evander Holyfield, Vince Gill, Martina McBride, and Lionel Richie will appear in-person and/or virtually to share their personal stories of Alabama’s enduring impact on music, while Alabama themselves will reflect on their decades-long career. The evening will also feature photos and performance videos of Alabama from throughout their career.

Jessica Nicholson

Billboard