Written by Peter Burditt
The Austin City Limits television program announced the impending induction of the late poet and singer/songwriter John Prine and Grammy, ACM and CMA Award-winner Trisha Yearwood in the show’s 2023 Hall of Fame. The induction will occur on Thursday, October 26, during a live and televised Austin City Limits episode.
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Austin City Limits is the longest-running music television show and they intend to hold onto that statistic as they head into their 49th season. The television program started its Hall of Fame back in 2014, and its first round of inductees featured Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Following its first year, the Hall of Fame later inducted Sheryl Crow, B.B. King, Joe Ely, Bonnie Raitt, and Townes Van Zandt. Needless to say, Prine and Yearwood are respectively joining the company of a remarkable group of musicians.
Yearwood first performed on Austin City Limits in 1992. She explained it as a “rite of passage” and a “spiritual experience” in a release regarding the news of the induction (quote via Austin American-Statesman). Subsequently, Yearwood went on to perform in the program both in 1996 and 2000, as well as was a surprise guest of Don Henley’s in 2015.
For Prine, Austin City Limits was an integral part of his career, as the folk musician appeared on the show eight times. Prine’s first appearance was in 1978; he then headlined the show in 1988, 1992, 1996, and finally, in 2018, on the show’s 44th season.
The event will include performances by numerous other artists, who will be announced at a later date. The Austin City Limits 2023 Hall of Fame Induction & Celebration will also serve as a fundraising event for Austin PBS, KLRU-TV. The show will take place at Austin City Limits’ home, Moody Theatre, and will be televised on PBS nationwide.
For more information on Austin City Limits 2023 Hall of Fame Induction & Celebration and to purchase tickets, visit acltv.com.
Photo by Danny Clinch/ ShoreFire Media