Iconic blind piano player Ronnie Milsap received all the love ahead of his final show.
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The iconic 80-year-old musician — who had performed with Kenny Rogers, Kacey Musgraves, and many more throughout his storied career — played his last concert at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on October 3. Before that happened, artists showed all the appreciation for him, as reported by People.
The show featured tribute performances from Kelly Clarkson, Sara Evans, Little Big Town, Parker McCollum, Justin Moore, Scotty McCreery, Randy Houser, Tracy Lawrence, Trace Adkins, Lorrie Morgan, Ricky Skaggs, Steven Curtis Chapman, and more.
[RELATED: Ronnie Milsap Announces Star-Studded Lineup for Final Nashville Show]
For many of the artists performing, it was a personal affair, as they shared a connection with the man of the hour. Milsap knew Morgan’s father, Skaggs and Milsap were friends, and McCreery was raised on Milsap’s music.
McCreery recalls Milsap performing a show near his hometown in North Carolina. “It was really an intimate kind of show,” he told the magazine. “That concert was a highlight for young Scotty, for sure.”
“You can just tell how much fun he’s having singing the songs and how happy it makes him, and how happy it makes the fans listen to his music, McCreery continued. “I just always find my way back to his music, even if it’s been a while.”
Clarkson posted to Instagram after the show and said, “Ronnie Milsap, you are such a musical hero of mine! Thank you so much for allowing me to honor you last night, but even more so, thank you for being such a great hang and a cool dude! @ronniemilsap1943.”
The show served as a retrospective of Milsap’s illustrious career that spanned more than 50 years. With more than 30 hits to his name including “(There’s) No Gettin’ Over Me,” “Pure Love,” “It Was Almost Like a Song,” and “A Woman in Love,” Milsap was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and won eight CMA Awards and six Grammy Awards, among other accolades.
