Kenny Chesney, Mac McAnally, Zac Brown & More Honor Jimmy Buffett During Star-Studded Tribute Concert

Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown, Jon Bon Jovi, Paul McCartney, and many more came together on Thursday, April 11 to honor the late musical icon, Jimmy Buffett, with an incredibly special one-night-only tribute concert dubbed “Keep The Party Going: A Tribute to Jimmy Buffett.” Held at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA, the star-studded event brought together a slew of Buffett’s friends and longtime collaborators to celebrate his legacy with a packed-out crowd of his “Parrot Head” fanbase. 

The stage was transformed into a beachside setting equipped with an array of coastal-themed props that put the crowd and the performers in the Jimmy Buffett, carefree state of mind. For each performance, the large screen sitting behind the band was illuminated with sunsets, neon signs, and nostalgic scenes that paid homage to various moments in Buffett’s career. 

Coral Reefer Band Member Mac McAnally Heads The Star-Studded Evening

At the late singer’s request, his award-winning collaborators known as The Coral Reefer Band have continued to make music and bring joy to their coastal audiences following his passing. On Thursday, they once again took the stage with 10-time CMA Award winner and longtime The Coral Reefer Band member Mac McAnally serving as the “musical captain” of the night alongside the 17 previously announced acts who were present. 

McAnally and Kenny Chesney greeted the crowd together as they delivered a spirited rendition of “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes,” followed by Zac Brown who sang “Pirates and Parrots,” a new song he wrote that was first showcased on stage of the 2023 CMA Awards during another Buffett tribute. The fun continued with iconic Buffett tunes like “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” “Volcano,” “He Went to Paris,” “Brown Eyed Girl,” “A Pirate Looks at 40,” “Come Monday,” and more. 

Plus, The Eagles and Paul McCartney came together to deliver a cover of The Beatles “Let It Be,” along with a set of the band’s own classics like “Boys of Summer” and “In The City.” Pitbull also came together with Jon Bon Jovi to offer fans a collaborative delivery of his tribute song, “Thank God For Jimmy Buffett,” while Snoop Dogg performed “Gin and Juice” from his 1993 Doggystyle album.

Additional Performers And Friends Appeared On Stage

Other big names who took the stage throughout the evening include Jackson Browne, Brandi Carlile, Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, Scotty Emerick, jack Johnson, Jake Owen, Caroline Jones and Jake Shimabukuro.

Several of Buffett’s friends such as Dolly Parton, Alan Jackson, James Taylor, and surfer Kelly Slater, were not able to make the concert in person, but they decided to pay tribute to him through video clips that were put on display to everyone to hear. 

Naturally, all the performers came together at the end of the night to raise a glass to Buffett as they collectively sang the iconic “Margaritaville.”

“Jimmy Buffett would get a big kick out of this deal,” McAnally told the crowd as the wide array of musicians, friends and stars began to take their place on stage for a performance that made for one big sing-along. 

Presented by Live Nation-Hewitt Silva, Keep The Party Going: A Tribute to Jimmy Buffett was a true celebration of the impact Buffett had on the world as a beloved musician, best-selling author, actor and entrepreneur.

Jimmy Buffett Left Behind A Lasting Legacy

Buffett died on September 1, 2023 after a four-year battle with a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma. He was 76 years old when he passed away. 

At the time, the news was shared through a statement posted to his official social media accounts, which read, “Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs…He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many.”

Throughout his career, which reigned for more than five decades, Buffett released over 30 albums of which nine were certified Platinum or multi-Platinum by the RIAA.

His Final Project Soared To The Top Of The Charts

His final work was unveiled just one week after he died. At the time, Buffett’s estate announced that he had finalized a new album before he passed away. This full-length collection titled Equal Strain in All Parts arrived posthumously on November 3 and debuted at No. 1 on both the Top Rock & Alternative Albums and Top Rock Albums tallies, a first-time feat for the two-time GRAMMY nominee. This project marked his final collection of breezy tunes and spirited vocals. 

“Keep The Party Going: A Tribute to Jimmy Buffett” is just another example of how Buffett’s fellow artists and loyal fanbase have continued to celebrate his legacy and impact on the music industry.