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March 17, 2016 5:41PM ET

Kris Kristofferson Tribute Concert: See Live and Backstage Photos

Willie Nelson, Reba, Emmylou Harris and more gather in Nashville to perform songs penned by the country icon

By

Rolling Stone

Reporter

Rolling Stone's Most Recent Stories

Kristofferson

Dubbed "The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson," last night's all-star concert in Nashville honored the prolific work of the country music renaissance man. Kristofferson pals like Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris and Rosanne Cash all performed his songs, along with artists inspired by the songwriter, from Eric Church to Jack Ingram. Here's some of the evening's most evocative photos, from both backstage and onstage.

Willie Nelson Kristofferson

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 16: Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson perform at The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson produced by Blackbird Presents at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media)

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

Old pals Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson teamed up to sing "Sunday Morning Comin' Down."

Kristofferson Reba

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 16: Kris Kristofferson and Reba perform at The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson produced by Blackbird Presents at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media)

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

Reba McEntire coaxed Kristofferson out of his side-stage seat to join in on "Me and Bobby McGee."

Willie Nelson

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 16: Willie Nelson performs at The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson produced by Blackbird Presents at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media)

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

Willie Nelson, one of Kristofferson's Highwaymen comrades, sang Kristofferson's song "Living Legend" from 1978.

The Highwaymen Kristofferson

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 16: The grand finale at The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson produced by Blackbird Presents at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media)

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

Shooter Jennings, Willie Nelson, Kristofferson and Jamey Johnson re-created the Highwaymen, singing the supergroup's signature song, written by Jimmy Webb.

Eric Church

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 16: Eric Church and Kevin Spacey attend The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson produced by Blackbird Presents at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media)

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

Oscar winner Kevin Spacey was in attendance for the Kristofferson tribute concert, mingling with artists like Eric Church backstage.

Emmylou Harris

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell performed "Chase the Feeling," which Kristofferson cut for his 2006 This Old Road album.

Alison Krauss

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 16: Jamey Johnson and Alison Krauss perform at The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson produced by Blackbird Presents at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media)

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

Jamey Johnson and Alison Krauss duetted on Kristofferson's often-covered "For the Good Times."

Rosanne Cash

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 16: Rosanne Cash performs at The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson produced by Blackbird Presents at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media)

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

For her rendition of "Lovin' Her Was Easier," Rosanne Cash made the song gender specific, singing "loving him was easier/than anything I'll ever do again."

Kristofferson Willie Nelson Lady Antebellum

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 16: The grand finale at The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson produced by Blackbird Presents at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media)

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

Kristofferson led an all-star finale, featuring Lady Antebellum and Willie Nelson, through "Why Me Lord."

Lady Antebellum

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood of Lady Antebellum harmonized on "Help Me Make It Through the Night."

Jennifer Nettles

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 16: Jennifer Nettles performs at The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson produced by Blackbird Presents at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media)

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

Jennifer Nettles delivered a soaring, vocally dynamic take on "Worth Fighting For," earning a standing ovation.

Eric Church

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

Eric Church prefaced his solo acoustic performance of "To Beat the Devil" by saying, "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for this song and for Kris Kristofferson."

Jack Ingram

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 16: Jack Ingram performs at The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson produced by Blackbird Presents at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media)

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

Jack Ingram tore through "Jesus Was a Capricorn" with ferocious defiance.

Hank Williams JR

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 16: Hank Williams, Jr. performs at The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson produced by Blackbird Presents at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media)

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

Bocephus sang "If You Don't Like Hank Williams," eating up the stage with grand gestures and an unconventional vocal phrasing.

Reba Kristofferson

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 16: Reba performs at The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson produced by Blackbird Presents at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media)

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

With Kristofferson looking on, Reba McEntire sang "Me and Bobby McGee."

Darius Rucker

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 16: Darius Rucker performs at The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson produced by Blackbird Presents at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media)

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

Darius Rucker's politically charged "Under the Gun" captured the energy of Kristofferson's protest song and was one of the most surprising performances of the night.

Lee Ann Womack

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 16: Lee Ann Womack performs at The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson produced by Blackbird Presents at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media)

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

Guitarist Audley Freed, drummer Fred Eltringham and musical director Don Was backed up Lee Ann Womack on her version of "Nobody Wins."

Jessi Colter

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 16: Jessi Colter performs at The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson produced by Blackbird Presents at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media)

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

Jessi Colter, whose late husband Waylon Jennings teamed up with Kristofferson in the Highwaymen, took to the piano to sing "The Captive."

Ryan Bingham

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 16: Ryan Bingham performs at The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson produced by Blackbird Presents at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media)

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

Ryan Bingham, who won an Academy Award for his Crazy Heart song "The Weary Kind" in 2010, performed Kristofferson's "The Taker."

Dierks Bentley

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 16: The Travelin' McCourys' Ronnie McCoury and Dierks Bentley perform at The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson produced by Blackbird Presents at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media)

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

As he did for his 2010 Up on the Ridge album, Dierks Bentley enlisted the Travelin' McCourys for his performance, singing Kristofferson's "From the Bottle to the Bottom."

Jon Randall

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 16: Jon Randall, Jessi Alexander, and Larry Gatlin perform at The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson produced by Blackbird Presents at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media)

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

Husband-and-wife songwriting duo Jon Randall and Jessi Alexander sang their song "Kristofferson," with help from Larry Gatlin," to open the evening.

Martina McBride

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 16: Martina McBride performs at The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson produced by Blackbird Presents at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media)

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

Martina McBride sang "Here Comes That Rainbow Again," a Kristofferson composition that Johnny Cash cut for his 1985 album Rainbow.

Shooter Jennings Jessi Colter

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

Shooter Jennings, posing backstage with his mother Jessi Colter, sang his father Waylon's verse in "Highwayman," performing the Highwaymen's signature song with Willie Nelson, Jamey Johnson and Kristofferson himself.

Kristofferson

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 16: Kris Kristofferson and Lisa Meyers attend The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson produced by Blackbird Presents at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media)

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

Kristofferson, with wife Lisa Meyers, whistled his approval for the performances from a chair on the side of the stage.

Kris Kristofferson Bonnie Raitt

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 16: Singer/Songwriter Kris Kristofferson poses at The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson produced by Blackbird Presents at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media)

John Shearer/GettyImages

Kris Kristofferson, the guest of honor at a tribute concert honoring his life and music, posed backstage prior to the event at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.