The recent death of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s last original founding member, guitarist Gary Rossington, is one of the saddest moments in music in recent years.
The 2023 CMT Music Awards is set to honor the impressive legacy of the country-rock band. Rossington died earlier this month at the age of 71, 50 years after the band’s debut album was released.
Slash and ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons will be among the rock and country stars paying tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd at the CMT Music Awards.
During the ceremony, a performance which includes Cody Johnson and Paul Rodgers singing lead vocals, Billy Gibbons, Slash, and Warren Haynes playing electric guitar, veteran Nashville studio and touring musicians Ethan Pilzer and Rich Redmond play bass and drums, and Wynonna Judd and LeAnn Rimes sing background vocals as the Honkettes.
Besides Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and Cassie Gaines died in a 1977 plane tragedy. The band stopped for a decade. Since rejoining in September 1987, the band lost Allen Collins, Billy Powell, Leon Wilkeson, and Hughie Thomasson.
Other artists appearing include Warren Haynes, Paul Rodgers, Wynonna Judd, Cody Johnson, and LeAnn Rimes.
The CMT Music Awards will air this Sunday, April 2nd.