Marty Stuart's 1999 album The Pilgrim marks a seismic shift for his career—and the past 20 years of roots-honoring country and Americana music. It captures the former Lester Flatt and Johnny Cash band mate as he pivoted from chasing commercial success to keeping alive the music of his old bosses and their peers.
Fans of the critically-acclaimed concept album rejoiced earlier this year when it was announced that Stuart's artist-in-resident stint at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville kicks off Sept. 11 with a 20th anniversary performance.
Per the Hall of Fame's announcement of Stuart's special guests for all three shows (Sept. 11, 18 and 25), the Pilgrim-themed Marty party doubles as a celebration of the album's re-release. No details yet on the reissue, which hopefully includes the first-ever vinyl pressing of a treasured album featuring appearances by Cash, Earl Scruggs, George Jones, Ralph Stanley and Pam Tillis.
Read More: Marty Stuart and Connie Smith: A Love Story Years in the Making
Stuart's special guests for Sept. 11 include one of the album's special guests, Emmylou Harris. She'll be joined by fellow Hall of Famer Connie Smith as well as Chris and Morgane Stapleton, Gary Carter and Kristin Wilkinson with her Superlative Strings.
On Sept. 18, Stuart celebrates the '60s with a "Psychedelic Jam-Bo-Ree," featuring Smith, Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman of The Byrds, Old Crow Medicine Show, Buck Trent, Kenny Lovelace, Jim Lauderdale, the Grand Ole Opry Square Dancers and the Fabulous Superlatives.
His third and final concert, Sept. 25's "Songs Tell a Story," celebrates songwriting with an all-acoustic set co-starring John Prine, Doug Kershaw, Dallas Frazier, Brandy Clark and the Fabulous Superlatives.
As an artist-in-residence, Stuart joins the same exclusive club as Cowboy Jack Clement, Scruggs, Tom T. Hall, Guy Clark, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Douglas, Vince Gill, Buddy Miller, Smith, Kenny Rogers, Ricky Skaggs, Alan Jackson, Rosanne Cash, Jason Isbell and 2018 artist-in-residence Miranda Lambert.
"Marty Stuart has made country music his life's work. For nearly 50 years, he's preserved its history, photographed its legends, and performed its music with integrity," said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, in a press release. "Marty has been an integral part of so many significant events here at the Museum, and his residency promises to deliver more historic moments."
Now Watch: Going to Concerts Regularly Makes You Happier, Study Says
