Billy Strings, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss & More Celebrate 25 Years Of Music From ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ At Grand Ole Opry

Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry hosted a concert celebrating the 25th anniversary of the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack on Saturday night. The memorable tribute featured Alison Krauss, Billy Strings, the Del McCoury Band, Emmylou Harris, Molly Tuttle and many other bluegrass all-stars performing songs from the Coen Brothers’ 2000 film.

The soundtrack’s producer, T Bone Burnett, was also in the house at the Opry for an evening MC’d by Ketch Secor, Mike Terry and Bill Cody. Most of the concert’s featured performers were backed by a house band of Jerry Douglas on dobro, Mike Compton on mandolin, Stuart Duncan on fiddle and Dennis Crouch on bass.

The Fairfield Four dug in on “Po Lazarus” to kick off the tribute before Old Crow Medicine Show tackled “Big Rock Candy Mountain,” Sarah Jarosz fronted “You Are My Sunshine” and Krauss teamed with Fisk Jubilee Singers on “Down To River To Pray.” Next, O Brother, Where Art Thou? star Chris Thomas King sang “Hard Time Killin’ Floor Blues.”

Later, Tuttle and Jarosz presented a stirring “I’ll Fly Away” duet ahead of Molly linking up with Alison Krauss and Emmylou Harris on “Didn’t Leave Nobody But The Baby.” The Alaskan Sunnyside Sisters took on “In The Highways” next and Tuttle returned for “I Am Weary, Let Me Rest.”

Billy Strings emerged to play guitar on and sing “Wild Bill Jones” and “O Death,” which also featured Dan Tyminski. The ensuing “In The Jail House Now” was performed by actor Tim Blake Nelson, who portrayed Delmar O’Donnell in the film. Dan Tyminski came back to lead “I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow,” Old Crow Medicine Show reemerged for “Indian War Whoop” and The Fairfield Four returned for “Lonesome Valley.”

The Del McCoury Band continued the tribute with a poignant rendition of Bill Monroe’s “Get Down On Your Knees And Pray.” Burnett then spoke about the way the soundtrack and the concert represented the best of America.

“I hear bad things about our country, but if you want to know what’s good about the United States, listen to our music, because the music from the United States is the best music in the world,” T-Bone Burnett said. “People have come from all over the world with different languages, different religions and politics, but the musicians have listened to each other and we’ve made harmony. And you’ll never hear better harmony than you’ll hear tonight.”

T-Bone Burnett ended his speech by welcoming the entire cast of performers from the concert back to the stage. The finale featured an “Angel Band” that was followed by a reprise of “I’ll Fly Away.”

Watch highlights from the O Brother celebration captured by Ohio Grown Live Music Archive below: