Between the 29 songs played throughout the night, actor Dennis Quaid; former UT Longhorns coach Mack Brown and players Emmanuel Acho, Colt McCoy and Vince Young; MLB star and Houston native Roger Clemens; television host and Dallas native Chris Harrison; and Austin-based fashion designer Kendra Scott took pause to reflect on moments of remembrance, bravery and resiliency in the Hill Country.
Acho, who spoke with camp counselors from Camp Mystic on a recent episode of Uncomfortable Conversations with Emmanuel Acho, brought 19-year-old counselor Ainslie Bashara on-stage in a touching moment celebrating her heroic actions which saved 16 lives.
Honoring first responders, Scott paid tribute to public information officer for the Center Point Volunteer Fire Department, Razor Dobbs, and the Fire Chief, Charles Holt; while Harrison acknowledged the Texas Game Wardens in attendance.
Reigning ACM Artist of the Decade Jason Aldean, who performed at the Moody Center on Saturday, Aug. 16, extended his stay, joining as a surprise guest after generously donating his stage and production crew. Taking the stage with an uptempo performance of “She’s Country,” Aldean then welcomed Lambert on-stage for a duet of “Amarillo Sky.”
“Thank you guys so much. Yeah, I had to stay an extra day here in Austin, I can’t think of a better cause to be here for than this,” Aldean shared. “Huge thank you to Miranda Lambert and Parker McCollum for doing this tonight.”
“Jason was here last night, as you already know, but he left all of his stuff for us to use, and stayed an extra day to sing a song for us, so you’re an honorary Texan tonight, friend,” Lambert added.
Later, Brooks & Dunn’s Ronnie Dunn let music speak where words failed. “I tried to come up with something to say earlier. It was profound, it would do what it needs to do, but I don’t think there’s a song on Earth – no words, no rhyme, no reason – that can heal the pain, the suffering, the sorrow brought on by what’s happened here. So, I’m just going to share a story with you,” he concluded, before delving into his show-stopping performance of faith-based “I Believe” with The Levites Music Group, a choir comprised of members Shedrach Rowry Jonathan Davis, Kevin Overton-Hadnot, De’Juana Shaw, Kraven Rowry and Agnes Henry.
After Cody Johnson’s performance of his No. 1 hits “Dirt Cheap” and “Til You Can’t” – as well as a cover of “How Great Thou Art” – the all-star roster of Texas talent including Lambert and McCollum, Ryan Bingham, Wade Bowen, Ronnie Dunn, Dylan Gossett, Jack Ingram, Johnson, Lyle Lovett, Lukas Nelson, Jon Randall and Randy Rogers joined together on-stage for a triumphant final sing along of “On The Road Again.”
Band Together Texas was made possible with the generous support of partners including WoodNext Foundation, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, John Paul & Eloise DeJoria Family Foundation, Woodforest National Bank, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Four Seasons Hotel Austin, H-E-B, Kendra Scott, Moody Center, Poncho, Tecovas, Uber and Whataburger.
