Chris Stapleton Gives A Soulful Rendition Of Willie Nelson’s “Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground”

Chris Stapleton Takes The Stage For Austin City Limits’ 50th Season

Austin City Limits (ACL) is celebrating a major milestone this month, turning 50, and the iconic music television series has announced an impressive lineup of country artists performing for a special event in honor of the occasion.

One of those artists is Chris Stapleton, who made an appearance and delivered a soulful tribute to Willie Nelson, a true ACL legend.

For those who don’t know, Willie Nelson helped launch ACL in 1974 when he headlined its very first show. Since then, he has made more appearances than any other artist, with a total of 18, according to the official ACL website.

Stapleton ended up covering Nelson’s hit “Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground.”

“Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground” was recorded by Nelson and released in 1980 as part of the soundtrack for the musical drama film Honeysuckle Rose. 

The song became his seventh number one hit on the country charts as a solo artist. It held the top spot for one week and remained on the chart for 14 weeks.

Watch Chris Stapleton Cover “Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground”

Paying tribute to a legend like Willie Nelson is no easy task, but if anyone could do justice to his iconic songs, it’s Chris Stapleton.

The “Tennessee Whiskey” singer has covered Nelson’s timeless hits several times before. One memorable moment came during Nelson’s 90th birthday celebration, when Stapleton performed “Always on My Mind” at a special two-night event at the Hollywood Bowl.

The two have also shared the stage before. For example, in 2023, Nelson was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, and during the ceremony, Stapleton joined him to perform the classic “Whiskey River.”

Legendary harmonica player Mickey Raphael joined Stapleton during his ACL performance. You can watch the two music legends perform together in the video below.