When Jimmy Buffett passed at 76, he left a huge hole in the country music world. Four of Jimmy’s closest friends decided to send him off the right way with an emotional performance of his biggest hits at the CMA Awards. Country icons Kenny Chesney, Mac McAnally, Zac Brown, and Alan Jackson all performed for Jimmy, with fans noting Alan wore sunglasses likely so people couldn’t see him tearing up. Kenny and Mac performed first, singing “A Pirate Looks at Forty” as an acoustic duo.
Watching Jimmy’s old friends play his song hit right in the chest, especially when Mac dropped lines between the lyrics like “Jimmy made a whole world full of friends.” Zac and Alan then performed a touching rendition of “Pirates and Parrots,” followed by “Margaritaville.” The Music Man has to say that the performance was not only the perfect way to pay tribute to Jimmy, but also highlighted what an incredible songwriter he was.
1.3 million viewers tuned in to see the tribute. The performance meant a lot to fans, who added comments such as “I think Alan wore sunglasses so people wouldn’t see him cry but you can hear it in his voice. You can see Zac Brown with tears in his eyes. Jimmy Buffett was well loved RIP” and “Damn near 50 yrs old, sittin’ here bawling. Thanks for the great times, the memories, and the music Jimmy. You are missed and will forever be loved.”
Jimmy’s own performances of his hits had such an infectious feeling of fun in them. One of Jimmy’s great performances is his 1993 cut of “Margaritaville” live in Minneapolis. Seeing him smiling and laughing with the band, and teasing the crowd as he sings the lyrics, is all classic Jimmy. It’s impossible to watch without a smile on your face.
Jimmy Buffett was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2019, but he did not make it public at the time. He underwent treatment but continued to tour right until the end. In May 2023, he was urgently admitted to hospital and rescheduled his forthcoming tour dates. He subsequently passed on September 1, 2023, at age 75. The Music Man readers may recall that in 2024, Jimmy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was also honoured that year with a tribute concert at the Hollywood Bowl, which featured the Eagles, Paul McCartney, Harrison Ford, and more.