George Strait walked onto the stage with Alan Jackson during “Alan Jackson: Last Call — The Finale” at Nissan Stadium on June 27, turning the farewell into a sold-out, star-studded sendoff that spanned decades of shared hits and friendship.
When the crowd at Nissan Stadium on June 27 was already roaring for Alan Jackson’s final touring stop, the moment shifted—quietly at first—then burst open as George Strait appeared onstage.
Jackson’s farewell show, titled “Alan Jackson: Last Call − The Finale,” drew a sold-out crowd at the Nashville venue. With the curtain up on his touring retirement, Jackson welcomed a close friend and longtime country peer into the spotlight.
Before Jackson took the stage for his own set, fellow country stars—including Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood and Lainey Wilson—paid tribute to his career.
“You might recognize this man,” Jackson said partway through his performance, as Strait strolled out to cheers.
The two traded off verses on their 2002 hit “Designated Drinker.” Together they harmonized through the chorus, singing: “I just lost the one that wrapped me ’round her finger / Yeah, I need to get to where I can’t think of her / So tonight, I’m the designated drinker.”
After the song, Strait turned the moment into something personal. “I brought you a Jack (Daniel’s) water,” he said, handing Jackson a cup. “So good to be here with the legend, Mr. Alan Jackson.”
Jackson answered with an invitation to relive another classic: “Let’s do that other song we used to do,” leading into their 1999 track “Murder on Music Row.” The song, as Jackson introduced it by its place in their shared repertoire, metaphorically laments the decline of traditional country music.
The title also carries a darker real-world reference: it echoes the 1989 killing of Nashville music publisher Kevin Hughes on Music Row. That event is the subject of The Tennessean’s 2024 true-crime podcast by the same name.
Jackson, 67, is retiring from touring due to a chronic inherited neurological condition, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
His final show wasn’t limited to seats. It was broadcast live at several locations across Nashville, including Lower Broadway. It will also air as a prime-time television special and stream on Peacock later this year.
Strait and Jackson have long shared more than a stage—they’re both known for maintaining the “neotraditional” country music sound. The 73-year-old “Amarillo By Morning” singer met Jackson in the late 1980s in Nashville. and their friendship has played out across major shared moments. including dueting at the CMA Awards.
They’ve also co-headlined massive events together, including their iconic 2004 appearance during “Live at Texas Stadium” in Dallas alongside Jimmy Buffett. Their discography includes duets such as “Murder on Music Row” (Strait’s album) and “Designated Drinker” (Jackson’s album).
Strait’s own touring history loops back into this night as well. He retired from touring in 2014 with a final concert tour called “The Cowboy Rides Away Tour.” More than a decade ago. Strait tapped Jackson to participate in the final show of that tour—a three-hour concert marathon at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Texas. spanning 40 songs.
That concert pulled in 104,793 fans, setting a North American record for the largest attendance at a single-show indoor stadium concert, breaking a mark previously held by the Rolling Stones since 1981.
Although Strait continued to perform at limited engagements and residencies after that, the show marked the end of his traditional, full-scale touring career.
Now, the night at Nissan Stadium closed the circle. Jackson invited Strait to join him for the final official show of his touring career—turning the farewell into something more than a performance: a reunion built from years of shared music. shared audiences. and a friendship that finally took the last bow together.
Alan Jackson George Strait Nissan Stadium Nashville farewell Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease Peacock country music Designated Drinker Murder on Music Row Luke Bryan Eric Church Luke Combs Miranda Lambert Carrie Underwood Lainey Wilson
Wait so George Strait just showed up randomly?? That’s awesome lol.
I don’t even know half these people but I saw “Murder on Music Row” and thought they were talking about like… actual murder?? Nashville really wild. Also Strait giving him Jack water is kinda funny.
Alan Jackson retiring tours is sad but also good? Like everyone’s saying farewell for decades now. The article says they sang “Designated Drinker” and I swear that’s the one with the ring-in-the-finger line, right? I’m surprised it was sold out already, Nissan Stadium is huge.
This is probably gonna sound dumb but wasn’t there some controversy like years ago about “Murder on Music Row” being too dark? The article mentions the 1989 killing of Nashville? I got lost there. Still though, George Strait and Alan Jackson on the same stage is like the country music cheat code. Luke Bryan and all them were there too but I only cared about Strait honestly.