Talk about an all-time classic Willie Nelson song.
There were so many incredible performances from the two-day celebration of the red headed stranger’s 90th birthday this weekend, from George Strait to Chris Stapleton, and Willie’s fellow Texan and cowgirl Miranda Lambert also made an appearance at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
She took the stage to perform the Willie and Waylon Jennings 1978 #1 hit “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” which was originally written by Ed Bruce with his wife Patsy Bruce and recorded by Ed.
The song was featured on his 1976 self-titled album, and Chris LeDoux also covered it for his 1976 album, Songbook of the American West.
Of course, it was made extremely popular by Waylon and Willie, when they covered it for their 1978 duets album Waylon & Willie. It became an instant classic, peaking at #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart later that same year, in addition to reaching the #42 spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The pair won a Grammy award for the duet in 1979 for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
Needless to say, it became a signature song in Willie’s vast and impressive catalog of classic country music, and Miranda called her performance her “cheers to our cowboy Willie Nelson”:
“Hey y’all. This is my cheers to our cowboy Willie Nelson tonight.”
Check it out:
And while you’re here, check out their epic performance with the Highwaymen at their American Outlaws: Live at Nassau Coliseum show in 1990:
