Watch Jimmy Buffett’s Smile Light up the Room in This Iconic Zac Brown Band Duet Performance

Back in 2003, the Zac Brown Band entered the studio to record a song written by Zac Brown and Wyatt Durrette. At the time, the band wanted nothing more than to share their love for country music. But unknown to them, “Chicken Fried” would become the first charted single for the band. The song eventually landed on the album The Foundation after being re-recorded. A classic song in Zac Brown Band’s history, the group once took the stage alongside Jimmy Buffett to give a memorable performance for CMT Crossroads. 

Offering a chance to mix genres, CMT Crossroads gained high praise as it often teamed country stars with singers from rock, soul, pop, and even R&B. First airing back in 2002, the production not only showcased country music but offered a glimpse into what the genre had to offer. And taking a look at some of the most legendary performances on the show, it is hard to beat Buffett and Zac Brown Band singing “Chicken Fried”, especially when Brown decided to throw in a little “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”

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Jimmy Buffett Honored At The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

Receiving nearly 2 million likes since it was uploaded four years ago, comments continue to pour in. “NO ONE had a smile like Jimmy, could light up an entire stadium!!! LOVE YOU JIMMY RIP dear man..” Another person added, “I start my day with this song… It’s such a feel good song! Seeing the smile on Jimmy Buffett when Zac surprises him with ‘cheeseburger in Paradise’ is just priceless and puts a smile on my face each time I listen…. Continue flying high with the angels the music will always play in our hearts!”

Sadly, in September 2023, Buffett passed away after battling a rare form of skin cancer. While stars like Harrison Ford, Snoop Dogg, and Pitbull honored the singer, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame welcomed him as a member of their 2024 class. Inducted by James Taylor, the musician remembered the tropical rock persona that encompassed Buffett. “For so many of us, Jimmy was like a heroic figure in a Greek myth. His adventure was our adventure. We got to share his huge love of this life. He loved being Jimmy Buffett.”

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Taylor also touched on how rare of a performer Buffett was. “He was larger than life but somehow at the same time always right-sized and always authentic. Jimmy was the self-made man and a poet, and there won’t be another like him.”

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