Blake Shelton + the Band Perry Lead Celebration of Glen Campbell at 2012 Grammy Awards
As Glen Campbell took the stage at the 2012 Grammy Awards on Sunday night, more than a few fans and friends in the audience looked nervous, not sure how the country legend would do during a celebration of his life and career. Halfway through his song "Rhinestone Cowboy" however, everyone breathed more than a sigh of relief. In fact, they were dancing in the aisles -- literally.
The Band Perry began the tribute, looking confident as they sang "Gentle on My Mind." Blake Shelton was introduced next, and he sang "Southern Nights" like he'd done it a thousand times before. Both artists were more than happy to play a supporting role to a man who influenced generations of country artists.
"Please welcome the great Glen Campbell everybody," Shelton shouted, and America looked stage left for Campbell. The 75-year-old showed no signs of struggles with Alzhimer's Disease, working the stage like the audience at the Staples Center and viewers at home were tuned in to see him -- and only him. He danced and skipped across the stage, singing a song that sounded more like advice to the new generation than ever before.
"There'll be a load of compromisin' / On the road to my horizon / But I'm gonna be where the lights are shinin' on me," he sang before introducing the famous chorus that gave Campbell his nickname. If he was sad about the inevitable end to his country career, it didn't show on this night. As he walked off stage, he could even be heard telling stage hands what to do with more than a little spark.
See Glen Campbell Through the Years