Dierks Bentley and Marty Stuart Perform Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson Duet During Opry Anniversary Special

Grand Ole Opry members Dierks Bentley and Marty Stuart took to the hallowed Opry stage to perform “Pancho and Lefty”…

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

February 14, 2021

10:04 pm

Dierks Bentley and Marty Stuart; Photo Courtesy Of NBC

Grand Ole Opry members Dierks Bentley and Marty Stuart took to the hallowed Opry stage to perform “Pancho and Lefty” during NBC’s Grand Ole Opry: 95 Years of Country Music special on Sunday, February 14.

It was a full-circle moment as Stuart is the artist who inducted Bentley into the Grand Ole Opry in 2005.

“You’ll be Pancho, I’ll be Lefty,” Bentley joked prior to their performance.

“Pancho and Lefty” was written by Townes Van Zandt and originally released by Van Zandt in 1972. Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson recorded the song as a duet in 1983 for their album of the same name.

Earlier in the show, Bentley took the stage for a solo performance of his hit, “Burning Man.”

Grand Ole Opry: 95 Years of Country Music also featured performances from Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Garth Brooks, Kane Brown, Lady A, Little Big Town, Little Big Town, Old Crow Medicine Show, Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Marty Stuart, Carrie Underwood and Trisha Yearwood.

The show also gave fans a look back at some of the most iconic performances in Opry history and showcased archived Opry interview and performance footage from today’s Opry members and legendary artists.

Additionally, the two-hour special also included star-studded collaborations from Darius Rucker featuring Old Crow Medicine Show, Carrie Underwood with Brad Paisley, Vince Gill featuring Reba McEntire and more.

Hosted by Brad Paisley and Blake Shelton, Grand Ole Opry: 95 Years of Country Music aired on Sunday, February 14 at 9 p.m. EST on NBC.

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.