See Steven Tyler, Eric Paslay Team Up on ‘Love Is Your Name’

Taped last September, Steven Tyler’s appearance on the concert series Front and Center finds the singer in Queens, New York, performing a set that doubles down on countryfied versions of Aerosmith hits — a stripped-down “Pink” with banjo accompaniment, anyone? — while also making room for cuts from his upcoming solo album. 

Now in its sixth season, Front and Center shines a light not only on the heavyweights of country music, but the songwriters who provide them with much of their material — the episode is an installment of the Country Music Association’s excellent stories-behind-the-songs CMA Songwriters Series. To that end, Tyler welcomes co-writers Eric Paslay and Lindsey Lee to the stage during this performance of “Love Is Your Name,” his debut release as a revamped country artist.

Backed by thickly stacked harmonies, multiple acoustic guitars and the rootsy, stomp of his band Loving Mary, Tyler rips into the tune without reservation, adding his hard rock wail to a song whose chorus nods to the arena-ready Americana of Mumford & Sons.

The full episode will be released on a rolling schedule during the next four weeks, airing in the New York and Los Angeles markets this weekend before coming to Nashville TV sets on March 25th. (Check local listings for additional public television stations.) Meanwhile, Tyler is also gearing up for a pair of Niagara Falls performances in late March, which will potentially help kick off a more extensive tour alongside Loving Mary.