JACKSON, Wyo. — The fifth annual Cowgirls at the Cowboy music festival hosted its most iconic headliner yet on Saturday night, welcoming 13-time Grammy Award winner Emmylou Harris.
Arguably one of the most storied acts to play at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, Harris received a standing ovation before she even played a song. She opened the show with “Two More Bottles of Wine,” followed by “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues.” She announced to the sold-out crowd that she has been singing for 50 years.
“I’m going to be 80 next year!” she said to applause. “What’s in a number?” She credited her love of music and performing with helping her hit the milestone. Up on stage, her voice and commanding presence did not give away her age.
Saturday’s show was the culmination of the three-night music festival, which is touted as the only all-female country music festival in the nation. Harris was accompanied on stage by the Red Dirt Boys – her five-man backing band that plays accordion, keyboard, drums, electric and upright bass, electric guitar, fiddle and mandolin.
Due to arthritis, Harris said she isn’t able to pick her guitar like she used to. She did strum the acoustic guitar for most of the show, though she set it down to sing one a cappella song with two of her band members. The trio performed a haunting rendition of “Bright Morning Stars,” a traditional Appalachian spiritual that she first recorded for her 1987 album Angel Band.
Harris shared stories and memories between songs about her childhood and about the multitude of musicians that she has worked with. She discussed singing on a 1980 country music concept album, The Legend of Jesse James, alongside Levon Helm. Johnny Cash and Charlie Daniels also worked on that album. She did not mention Dolly Parton, who died two months ago and who had recorded two albums as part of a trio with Harris and Linda Rondstadt.
During the two-hour show, Harris serenaded the packed house with title tunes like “Red Dirt Girl” and “Luxury Liner.” She also used the stage to fondly play some songs by other artists, including “Kern River” by Merle Haggard, “Goodbye” by Steve Earle, and “Save the Last Dance for Me” by The Drifters.
“To this day, I still only know three chords,” Harris told the audience, laughing. “That’s all you need.”
Harris has recorded more than 25 albums during her career. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008 and won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement award in 2018.
