Willie Nelson is joining forces with the ACM Awards New Artists of the Year nominees for a remake of his classic hit, “On the Road Again,” and it’s all for a worthwhile cause. The new version of the 1980 song, which will include Ingrid Andress, Gabby Barrett, Jordan Davis, Russell Dickerson, Lindsay Ell, Riley Green, Caylee Hammack, Cody Johnson, Tenille Townes and Morgan Wallen, is being released by ACM Lifting Lives, in partnership with Warner Music, with proceeds going to the ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund.
“The Academy is honored to work with Willie Nelson and all 10 ACM Awards New Artist Nominees to create a new contemporary version of the classic ‘On the Road Again (ACM Lifting Lives Edition)’ that is so poignant for our current times,” Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music, said in a statement. “This is a powerful way to showcase so many of our newer and fast-rising artists alongside one of our genre’s most legendary artists and iconic songs of all time.
“It feels very appropriate that this event will raise much needed funds for our country music industry members in financial crisis through our ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund,” he continued. “A huge thank you to the artists, Ross Copperman and Jimmy Robbins as well as our friends at Warner Music Nashville for donating their time to this important project.”
The ACM Awards were moved from their original date of April 5 to September 16, changing locations from Las Vegas to Nashville, due to the coronavirus pandemic. The ACM Awards will take place at the Grand Ole Opry, the Ryman Auditorium and the Bluebird Cafe. Keith Urban, who was set to host in April, is still planning to host, although the Academy of Country Music has yet to reveal how the ceremony will take place, and whether or not a live audience will be allowed.
The awards will air live on CBS, beginning at 8:00 PM ET. The new version of “On the Road Again” will be available beginning on Thursday, August 13.