ACM Lifting Lives Revamps Willie Nelson’s ‘On the Road Again’

Willie Nelson the Academy of Country Music have put “On the Road Again” back in the fast lane, re-launching the classic with all ten of the 55th ACM Awards New Artist nominees.

With the country legend behind the wheel and a busload of rising stars riding shotgun, the updated track now features Ingrid Andress, Gabby Barrett, Jordan Davis, Russell Dickerson, Lindsay Ell, Riley Green, Caylee Hammack, Cody Johnson, Tenille Townes and Morgan Wallen. Ross Copperman and Jimmy Robbins produced the revamped life-on-the-road anthem, which will start spinning at country radio August 13. And nodding to its theme celebrating the musician’s lifestyle, proceeds will benefit ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund to support country music professionals hit hard by the pandemic.

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This year’s ACM New Artist Of The Year Nominees have teamed up with @willienelsonofficial to bring you “On the Road Again (ACM Lifting Lives Edition),” releasing THIS THURSDAY, August 13th. Proceeds from this collaborative performance of Willie’s timeless hit will benefit the ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund, which supports individuals in the Country Music community in need of pandemic relief.

A post shared by Academy of Country Music (ACM) (@acmawards) on Aug 10, 2020 at 7:02am PDT

“The Academy is honored to work with Willie Nelson and all 10 ACM Awards New Artist Nominees to create a new contemporary version of the classic ‘On the Road Again (ACM Lifting Lives Edition)’ that is so poignant for our current times,” said Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music. “This is a powerful way to showcase so many of our newer and fast-rising artists alongside one of our genre’s most legendary artists and iconic songs of all time. It feels very appropriate that this event will raise much needed funds for our Country Music industry members in financial crisis through our ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund. A huge thank you to the artists, Ross Copperman and Jimmy Robbins as well as our friends at Warner Music Nashville for donating their time to this important project.”

The track arrives just weeks before the ACM Awards Male and Female New Artist winners are set to be announced, which in turn marks the beginning of the long-postponed run up to the 55th Academy of Country Music Awards. After being moved from their original home of Las Vegas in April, this year’s show will be broadcast live from Nashville on CBS September 16, and hosted by Keith Urban.