When Tyler Childers’ record label asked him what artist he would want to record his song “Jersey Giant,” he requested Elle King. Sunday night (Feb. 19) he joined her on stage in Lexington, KY for a first-ever performance of the song to a surprised and jubilant crowd. Watch performance below.

“I am proud that I come from this part of America,” said King. “Where I come from, what I see in the faces are love, hope, bravery, hardworking, family oriented, true blooded, incredibly strong human beings. I felt honored to share the stage with someone who is also shining a massive light on the beauty of where we come from. Tyler Childers, you are a beacon of hope. You are a pillar of truth and proof that if anyone from down home has a dream and something to say, people will listen. Thank you, Tyler, for giving me a beautiful song. And thank you for joining me tonight. For the first time in probably over 10 years you got up and sang that song with me. And I love you. From the River Rat Festival to the worldwide superstar that you deserve nothing less than to be, more than anything, I am glad to have to gotten to sing with my friend tonight. Thank you. Kentucky Strong.”

King’s nearly 30 city A-Freakin-Men Tour Presented by Slow & Low opened Valentine’s night in New Orleans, LA followed by shows in Atlanta, GA, two sold-out nights in Asheville, NC before the sold-out show in Lexington where Kentucky native Childers joined her on stage for the performance.

King recorded and released the song last year and added it to her critically acclaimed Come Get Your Wife album which was released just a few weeks ago. Upon release of King’s version of the song, Childers said, “I wrote ‘Jersey Giant’ over ten years ago and only performed it for a short period of time. I was pleased with how it turned out structurally (it even has a bridge, which is rare for me), but I was over performing it pretty fast. I reckon that’s just how songs go sometimes. They can be like that coat you saw and had to have, only to get it home and think, ‘Why gah, I ain’t never gonna wear this thing.’ Or, one that you got from an ex which you would rather just toss out. But that’s not saying anything against the coat, it just doesn’t fit me anymore and hasn’t for some time. I’m super excited that Ms. King has dusted this old song off and given it a new life.”

King, who provides lead and background vocals and is featured on acoustic guitar, co-produced the track with award-winning, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and reigning ACM Acoustic Guitar Player of the Year, Charlie Worsham. Worsham lends his signature sound for background vocals, plus acoustic guitar, mandolin and banjo.

King will join Childers on his 2023 Send in the Hounds Tour at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Aug. 2and 3.

The Elle King A-FREAKIN-MEN Tour Presented by Slow & Low, will also feature the musical force that is Red Clay Strays. (* not available for this Show)

A-FREAKIN-MEN Tour Presented by Slow & Low:

Feb 24 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner
Feb 25 – Harrisburg, PA – XL Live
Feb 27 – Cleveland, OH – Masonic Auditorium
Feb 28 – Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J Brady Music Center
March 1 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room at Old Red Centre
March 3 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore
March 4 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed
March 5 – St. Paul, MN – The Palace
March 7 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
March 8 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
March 10 – Denver, CO – Summit
March 11 – Salt Lake City, UT – Union Event Center
March 13 – Seattle, WA – Showbox Sodo
March 14 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall
March 15 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall
March 17 – Stateline, NV – Harrah’s Lake Tahoe South Shore Room
March 18 – Sacramento, CA – Ace Of Spades
March 20 – Tempe, ZA – Marquee Theater
March 22 – Dallas, TX – The Factory At Deep Ellum
March 23 – Austin, TX – Austin City Limits Live At Moody Theater
March 24 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom
March 25 – Bossier City, LA* – Margaritaville Resort Theater