See Ashley Campbell’s Wistful Louvin Brothers Cover on the Opry

Penned by Boudleaux Bryant and Chet Atkins, the song “How’s the World Treating You” has been interpreted by numerous performers over the years, including Elvis Presley, Eddy Arnold and close harmony duo the Louvin Brothers. Later, Alison Krauss joined forces with James Taylor to record it for the Louvins tribute album Livin’, Lovin’, Losin’, and that’s the version Ashley Campbell performed for her September 9th visit to the Grand Ole Opry.

Accompanied by her brother Shannon and longtime Glen Campbell banjo player Carl Jackson – who is also her godfather – Campbell delivers Krauss’ parts softly and sweetly. Jackson, equipped with an acoustic guitar instead of a banjo, sings Taylor’s lower harmony parts in this unhurried rendition. For a song about the one-sided devastation of heartbreak, it’s remarkably soothing and pleasant when their two voices caress gut punch lines like “All my dreams have been shattered, how’s the world treating you?”

In December, Campbell released her debut single “Remembering,” which she wrote with Kai Welch about her father’s public battle with Alzheimer’s. The song originally appeared in the documentary I’ll Be Me, which followed the Campbell family as they dealt with Glen’s diagnosis and treatment.