Zac Brown Band and Mac McAnally Deliver Heartfelt Ode to Jimmy Buffett With ‘Pirates & Parrots’

Zac Brown Band delivered a musical tribute to the late Jimmy Buffett with the release of “Pirates & Parrots,” featuring longtime Coral Reefer Band member, Mac McAnally. 

The touching salute to Buffett blends ZBB’s signature sound with the laid-back island vibes Buffett was known for. The poignant lyrics share a farewell to Buffett and imagine what he’s experiencing in the afterlife while promising to continue to celebrate his memory. 

“Adios, my friend/ Anchor where that ocean ends/ We’ll pick up where you left off/ Strummin’ on a sailor song/ We’ll hold down this salty rock/ Where it’s always 5 o’clock/ When the sun goes down, we raise our drinks/ All the pirates and the parrots sing/ Oh, Oh, Oh,” goes the chorus. 

“I’m so excited for you to hear this song and to pay tribute to Jimmy Buffett. It hit me hard when we found out he was exiting the stage, he was an incredible human being,” Brown shared in a statement, “This is a celebration of his life and all of the people that will remember him through his songs.” 

The Georgia native teamed up with McAnally to premiere the emotional song during Keep The Party Going: A Tirbute To Jimmy Buffett at the Hollywood Bowl earlier this month. They performed alongside a star-studded lineup that included Kenny Chesney, Jake Owen, Paul McCartney, Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, Caroline Jones, and many more.  

Brown, who teamed up with Buffett on the mega-hit “Knee Deep” in 2010, previously honored the musical icon during the 2023 CMA Awards where he took the stage alongside Alan Jackson to perform “Margaritaville.” 

Jimmy Buffett passed away on September 1, 2023. After his passing, it was revealed that he was battling a rare form of skin cancer. He was 76 years old. 

Following the release of “Pirates & Parrots,” Zac Brown returned to the road alongside Kenny Chesney for the Sun Goes Down Tour. The trek kicked off with a sold-out show at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida over the weekend and will continue through late August.  

Zac Brown Band delivered a lively set that included a slew of their biggest hits, including “Same Boat,” “Toes,” “Colder Weather,” “Home Grown,” “Chicken Fried,” and more. They also honored Buffett with a live performance of  “Pirates & Parrots” during the show. 

Zac Brown Band has a slew of tour dates on the books for 2024, including stops at several fairs and festivals. See below for a complete list. 

4/27 – Charlotte, NC – Bank of America Stadium *
5/4 – Minneapolis, MN – U.S. Bank Stadium *
5/11 – Arlington, TX – AT&T Stadium *
5/18 – Atlanta, GA – Mercedes-Benz Stadium *
5/25 – Landover, MD – FedExField *
5/26 – Norfolk, VA – Patriotic Festival 2024 at Scope Arena
6/1 – Pittsburgh, PA – Acrisure Stadium *
6/2 – Canandaigua, NY – CMAC
6/8 – Philadelphia, PA – Lincoln Financial Field * SOLD OUT
6/15 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field *
6/22 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Field *
7/6 – Kansas City, MO – GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium *
7/7 – Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island – Cavendish Beach Music Festival 
7/10 – Ottawa, ON – Ottawa Bluesfest 
7/11 – Québec, QC – Festival D’été De Québec
7/13 – Seattle, WA – Lumen Field *
7/20 – Los Angeles, CA – SoFi Stadium *
7/21 – Paso Robles, CA – California Mid-State Fair
7/27 – Denver, CO – Empower Field at Mile High Stadium *
8/3 – Nashville, TN – Nissan Stadium *
8/10 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field *
8/17 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium *
8/23 – Foxborough, MA – Gillette Stadium * SOLD OUT
8/24 – Foxborough, MA – Gillette Stadium * SOLD OUT
8/25 – Foxborough, MA – Gillette Stadium * SOLD OUT
10/27 – Cape Town, South Africa – Cape Town Country Festival
11/9 – Phoenix, AZ – The Hondo Rodeo Fest

* with Kenny Chesney on the SUN GOES DOWN 2024 Tour