Glen Campbell Says Goodbye in Style at Grammys

The Band Perry pays tribute to Glen Campbell during the 54th Grammy Awards.

ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

Glen Campbell gave a farewell performance at the Grammy Awards Sunday night, supported by the Band Perry and Blake Shelton. The country and pop singer, who had a string of hits in the 1970s, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease last year and is on a "goodbye tour." 

The Band Perry, nominees for Best New Artist, opened the medley with a version of "Gentle on my Mind." Shelton then performed a verse of "Southern Nights" before introducing the man himself. Campbell got the crowd on its feet with his version of "Rhinestone Cowboy," his biggest hit. The performance had a few small snags, with Campbell fumbling a few lyrics, but the crowd gave Campbell its unwavering support, paying their respect. Paul McCartney even pumped his fist as Campbell performed.

Campbell released his final album, Ghost on the Canvas, last year. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award Grammy this year.

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Song Stories

“Satisfied”

Tom Waits | 2011

Only the genius of Tom Waits could combine the subject of mortality, a reoccurring theme in his work, with wordplay that name checks both Mick and Keith, whom he calls "Mr. Jagger" and "Mr. Richards," and the title of their magnum opus, "Satisfaction." And to show just how cool Waits really is, he even got Mr. Richards to play along, one of nine guest appearances the guitarist has made on three Waits albums. "This growling roadhouse stomp is a late-breaking response to the Stones' greatest hit," Rolling Stone said of the track.

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