Zac Brown Band and Mac McAnally Deliver Heartfelt Ode to Jimmy Buffett With ‘Pirates & Parrots’
ZBB performed the song over the weekend during the kick off of the Sun Goes Down Tour.
Zac Brown performs in Tampa, Florida
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
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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