Willie Nelson, Elton John, more join Orville Peck on new EP
MUSIC

Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Willie Nelson, Elton John, more on Orville Peck's new EP

Globally-acclaimed country performer Orville Peck's "Stampede, Vol 1" features Willie Nelson, Elton John, Midland and Allison Russell among many.

Marcus K. Dowling
Nashville Tennessean

Feeling "happier and healthier than (he ever has)," South African-born, Canadian-raised and globally acclaimed country music performer Orville Peck surpasses his past half-decade of musical success and pop cultural renown with a new EP, "Stampede, Vol 1."

Peck's is 2024's only country music release to likely feature Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Elton John and Willie Nelson, plus modern-era favorites Midland and Allison Russell.

The frequently mask-adorned artist joins with the Red-Headed Stranger for a take on the latter's cover of 2006's queer country classic "Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond Of Each Other." Alongside John, Peck covers his half-century-old, global top-10 charting glam rock classic "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)."

Orville Peck, 2024.

A year ago after performing a sold-out show at New York City’s The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Peck announced that he was postponing his nationwide tour because, as he noted via social media, his then-declining "mental and physical health" would not allow him to perform at the level he felt his fans deserved.

A year later, he's rested, relaxed and releasing new music.

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'Stampede Vol. 1'

"Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond Of Each Other" finds Peck working with one of his most significant creative inspirations for his first new single since his Juno Award-nominated and Polaris Prize-listed 2022 album "Bronco." This followed his 2019-released and self-produced mainstream debut album "Pony," which featured the breakout hits "Dead of Night" and "Take You Back."

Other linkups on "Stampede Vol. 1" include "The Hurtin' Kind" with Midland, the Alison Russell-assisted "Chemical Sunset," pairing with Nathaniel Rateliff for "Conquer That Heart, Noah Cyrus for "How Far Will We Take It?" and "Miénteme" with Bu Cuaron.

Peck's work with Cuaron, an Italian-Mexican singer, songwriter, and producer, features multilingual, electronic indie pop style and countrified soul leanings that expand genre expectations.

Before embarking on a tour featuring four dozen dates nationwide between May and November, Peck will be honored with the Vito Russo Award at the 35th GLAAD Media Awards in New York City. The honor is presented to an LGBTQ media professional who has made a significant difference in accelerating LGBTQ acceptance.

For more information on Orville Peck, visit orvillepeck.com.