Ernest, Zach Top, Sierra Ferrell & More Tribute Keith Whitley
Country music legend Keith Whitley is gone, but he’s a long way from being forgotten. If anything, the strength and influence of his legacy has only increased over time, and that was illustrated on Saturday, April 20th during the first day of the Two Step Inn Fest in Georgetown, TX, just north of Austin.
Rain would truncate the day’s festivities, but not before a tribute came together to toast Keith Whitley, hosted by Ernest who’s promoting his new Whitley-inspired traditional country music album Nashville, Tennessee. He was assisted by a host of the top-named artists in independent country who were all on site for the festival.
With Ernest’s band acting as the house band, the son of Keith Whitley, Jesse Keith Whitey, came out in a T-shirt of his mom Lorrie Morgan to sing a few songs for pops, including a song the younger Whitley wrote while visiting his dad’s grave that incorporates the names of some famous Keith Whitley songs into the verses.
Then Ernest introduced Drake Milligan, who was fresh off the main stage playing his own set to sing “Don’t Close Your Eyes.” Then Ernest took center stage himself to sing “Miami, My Amy” before introducing Sierra Ferrell to sing “When You Say Nothing At All.”
Ernest then introduced his steel guitar player Chandler Walters, who’s been creating his own buzz lately, and has been an integral part of putting the steel guitar sound back in popular country music. Walters sang “Nobody In His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her” before stepping back behind the steel for the rest of the set.
“Country is in real good hands, ladies and gentlemen,” is how Ernest introduced Zach Top. Similar to Drake Milligan, Zach helped open the main stage of the Two Step Inn on Saturday. “I’m glad I don’t have to sing my crappy songs,” Top said taking the stage, always humble. “I get to sing some good ones.”
Zach Top is one of the most buzzed-about artists in country music after the release of his new album Cold Beer & Country Music. Top co-wrote every song on the new album with producer Carson Chamberlain, who is the Kentucky native that played steel guitar and was the bandleader for Keith Whitley all the way up to the country legend’s death in 1989. It was only fitting that Top closed out the tribute.
Zach Top performed “I Never Go Around Mirrors,” and Hannah Dasher showed up impromptu to sing some harmonies with Zach and Ernest. Then Zach Top closed out the tribute by performing Whitley’s “Hard Livin’.”
Two Step Inn festivities were cut short on Saturday due to inclement weather. Sets by Ryan Bingham, Sammy Kershaw, and Ernest’s solo set were cut so that Ian Munsick, Martina McBride, and Saturday’s headliner Cody Johnson could get in full sets before torrential rain moved into the area.
For more coverage from Two Step Inn, following Saving Country Music on Instagram, and stay tuned for a full recap of the festival.
April 21, 2024 @ 10:04 am
Ernest’s new album is pretty damn good. Keith was as good as it could possibly ever get. Listen to the music and let it bring us together.
April 21, 2024 @ 10:26 am
Don’t sleep on Hannah Dasher, people. Her whole persona is a total trip. Her last album sounds like it was set in the late 60’s universe of Loretta’s Fist City. Good stuff.
April 21, 2024 @ 11:25 am
Did Bingham volunteer to be cut or was he asked to be? He had cancelled 2 nights ago in OK. The last time I saw him at Stubbs he played a single song, said he was too hungover, and ended the show. Crowd last night was speculating, apparently he has a reputation now for it. More than a few pissed off fans there. Unfortunately missed the Whitley tribute.
April 21, 2024 @ 12:11 pm
I am still trying to confirm this, but I do believe this is definitely a possibility. The only people I can confirm got cut were Ernest and Sammy Kershaw.
I’ve seen some folks complaining, but this could have been MUCH worse. I was worried they were going to have to cancel the whole day.
April 22, 2024 @ 8:33 am
True that. Colter Wall seemed to end about 7 minutes early and his roadies broke that stage down faster than I have ever seen- they were practically running.
April 22, 2024 @ 9:43 am
And what about Lorrie Morgan–Where was she…other than on Jesse’s shirt?
I’m surprised Sammy Kershaw would have been on the bill at all. Wasn’t Sammy one of Lorrie’s post-Keith husbands–married in thet 2000s, when Jesse Whitley was a teenager? (Yes.) I seem to recall that marriage being “tempestuous”–as far as drawing police visits and media headlines. Nice that they’re apparently all on good enough terms that Sammy would have been scheduled to appear with Jesse on a Keith Whitley tribute.
April 22, 2024 @ 9:48 am
This was a 45-minute tribute at a music festival. Sammy Kershaw was set to play after the tribute on the same stage. But due to a massive thunderstorm moving in, they put Martina McBride on the stage next, who was one of the headliners.
Not sure where Lorrie Morgan was, but I wouldn’t take offense that she wasn’t there. She probably wasn’t going to fly in for a 45-minute tribute. The artists featured in the tribute were performers at the festival.
April 21, 2024 @ 3:20 pm
Wow that one guy wants to look just like Brantley Gilbert. He even has the pudge bulging above his oversize belt buckle. And an American flag tattoo? What a jingoist loser.
April 21, 2024 @ 3:58 pm
Sounds like you’re not a huge fan of Keith’s son.
April 21, 2024 @ 5:06 pm
It would be awesome if we could have even one comments section where someone doesn’t come in and whizz all over the conversation with a snide remark.
April 22, 2024 @ 5:44 am
Sad that having a tattoo representing love for one’s own country is considered a negative these days.
April 24, 2024 @ 2:52 am
Only amongst Austin’s most elite gatekeepers.
April 22, 2024 @ 8:51 am
BDE,
Poor little militant.
On a higher, musical note – just came across some people who were at the George Thorogood concert last night.
The conversation included they being at Red Rocks last year to see Tyler Childers.
They said Tyler and Red Rocks were made for each other.
Cool pics from the Two Step Inn Fest, Trig.
April 22, 2024 @ 4:39 am
My daughter and nephew attended both days and had a blast, sent some videos this morning, Sunday’s lineup was great from what I could tell, I’ll get a full report later from her.
April 22, 2024 @ 5:38 am
Ernest is a poser. He’s just another Wallen boy putting on an act. Rest of the group is fantastic though
April 22, 2024 @ 10:10 am
Personally think Ernest is pushing the envelope making his songs more country . His last two projects have been especially enjoyable. Commercial but very country with a few pop country songs thrown in. I don’t mind this so much. While i’m not crazy about any album past 15 tracks I find myself really enjoying his album. I got a feeling despite the filler it’ll be a top 25 record for me at the end of the year.
April 22, 2024 @ 9:11 pm
you are wildly incorrect
April 22, 2024 @ 8:03 am
I really like Ernest, he is clearly a very talented singer/songwriter. I understand he is friends with a lot of guys who are more pop oriented country guys, so he is going to have some of those songs also and I am fine with that. He is putting out too many good sings to judge him on those.
April 22, 2024 @ 6:56 pm
I’m going to listen to that Ernest album tomorrow!