George Strait and Chris Stapleton are still touring the country. The two made a visit at Soldier Field in Chicago on Saturday, July 20, to entertain fans in the north with a night of country music. Both performers gave powerful sets full with hits. But for a few fans, the high point of the performance was when Stapleton and Strait sang a few songs together.
Three songs, including their official collaboration “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame,” were performed by Strait and Stapleton together. “Pancho and Lefty,” a beloved country ballad, was one of the compositions. The song was written by Texas singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt, but Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson popularized it. This powerful duo of country music artists is now assuming the role. Watch them harmonize on the beloved song below.
“Pancho and Lefty,” which was originally spelled “Poncho and Lefty,” was written by Van Zandt and featured on his 1972 album The Late Great Townes Van Zandt. It would become one of his most well-known tracks later on. His performance of the song would not, however, be the reason for its fame.
Emmylou Harris and Hoyt Axton recorded renditions of “Pancho and Lefty” five years after Van Zandt’s original release. The song was the lead single from Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard’s 1983 duet album. The song became a No. 1 smash thanks to their rendition. In 2020, their version of the classic was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
