Little Big Town Tribute Glen Campbell With ‘Wichita Lineman’ at 2017 CMA Awards
Little Big Town paid tribute to county and pop legend Glen Campbell at the 2017 CMA Awards on Wednesday night (Nov. 8), performing a stunning cover of his classic hit, "Wichita Lineman."
A simple, somber piano motif from songwriter Jimmy Webb began their arrangement of the classic song, which became one of Campbell's signature hits after he recorded it in 1968. It's one of several Webb songs Campbell helped turn into all-time hits.
Little Big Town's rendition was muted, but powerful, relying on Karen Fairchild's strong lead vocal and the sinuous, shimmering vocal harmonies that have made LBT one of the most successful and acclaimed vocal groups in contemporary country music.
Campbell died on Aug. 8 after battling Alzheimer's since 2011. His daughter, Ashley, cried in the audience as LBT performed her dad's hit.
Campbell and Willie Nelson won Musical Event of the Year earlier Wednesday for their collaboration on Nelson's "Funny How Time Slips Away" from Campbell's final album, Adios. The title song of that project is another of Jimmy Webb's songs.
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