Keith Richards is one of the most versatile musicians in the history of the game. He’s played jazz, metal, blues, classic rock, and even country music. As a result, he’s a hot commodity, and seemingly every genre he’s toiled in wants a piece of him.
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One genre that successfully got Richards to bite was country music. Specifically, the Country Music Hall of Fame somehow got The Rolling Stones legend to perform at the Country Music Hall of Fame Medallion Ceremony in 2024.
Keith Richards’ relationship with country music is not just an intangible and sentimental one. As a matter of fact, Richards and The Stones released several country songs during their heyday that were massively successful. Those singles include, “Dead Flowers”, “Sweet Virginia”, and “Honky Tonk Women”. Furthermore, Richards has publicly acknowledged Roy Rogers and Gram Parsons as major influences.
With all that in mind, Richards’ appearance at the ceremony wasn’t entirely off-brand. However, it didn’t necessarily make it all the less surprising. Regardless, that night, Keith Richards took the stage and gave country music a taste that is not so often associated with the storied genre.
Some Decorated Country Folks And… Keith Richards
On October 20, 2024, the Country Music Hall of Fame held their Medallion Ceremony. The inductees of that evening included James Burton, Toby Keith, and John Anderson. At this ceremony, what typically happens is that a handful of star-studded musicians from the genre perform on stage to pay their respects to the inductees of the night. That did happen, however, Richards threw a curve ball to the audience when he appeared on stage with Vince Gill and Emmylou Harris to help induct Burton by performing “I Can’t Dance”.
During the performance, Keith Richards surprisingly took on the lead vocals and went back and forth, trading guitar licks with Vince Gill. In essence, Richards’ appearance was an unexpected treat that will forever be remembered by the Country Music Hall of Fame. However, this of course raises the question: Why exactly was Keith Richards there?
Richards showed up and showed out for Burton simply out of admiration for the musician. In prior instances, Richards called Burton “The Master of The Telecaster” and said playing with him “makes you sick.” So, like most people in this world, Keith Richards is also a fanboy. He just had the privilege of acting upon his fandom by paying respect to one of his musical influences.
Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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