CMA Awards Crowd Stunned As Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Mac McAnally & Zac Brown Band Break Down In Emotional Tribute To Jimmy Buffett

CMA Awards 2023: Country Stars Honor Jimmy Buffett With Emotional Tribute

Just over nine weeks after Jimmy Buffett’s passing at age 76, the country music community came together at the 57th Annual CMA Awards in Nashville to honor the beloved “Mayor of Margaritaville.” What unfolded was a heartfelt multi-song tribute from Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Mac McAnally, and Zac Brown Band — a performance that captured both Buffett’s laid-back joy and his enduring legacy.

“A Pirate Looks at Forty”

The tribute began with Kenny Chesney and Buffett’s longtime Coral Reefer Band member Mac McAnally seated side by side, acoustic guitars in hand. Behind them, photos of Buffett flashed across the big screen. As they eased into “A Pirate Looks at Forty,” Chesney visibly fought back tears before closing with a simple, heartfelt: “Thank you, Jimmy.”

“Adios, My Friend” & “Margaritaville”

Then came Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson, dressed in breezy shirts and barefoot in Buffett’s honor, who led the crowd through “Adios, My Friend” and Buffett’s 1977 signature hit, “Margaritaville.” Fans rose to their feet in a standing ovation as the arena swayed, clapped, and sang along — a perfectly unpolished celebration of the man who turned island daydreams into a cultural phenomenon.

Remembering Buffett

Buffett passed away on September 1 after a four-year battle with Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive skin cancer. In a statement, his family wrote: “He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many.”

Each artist on stage had shared more than just stages with Buffett — they shared history. Alan Jackson’s duet with Buffett, “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” remains a CMA-winning staple. Zac Brown Band collaborated with Buffett on “Knee Deep” in 2011 and later for a reimagined version of “Same Boat.” And Mac McAnally, Buffett’s close friend and Coral Reefer bandmate, co-wrote, produced, and toured with him for decades.

Keeping the Party Going

Fittingly, McAnally has promised The Coral Reefer Band will carry on in Buffett’s honor. “Jimmy wants us to continue, and we want to continue,” he told Billboard. That spirit is also embedded in Buffett’s final album, Equal Strain on All Parts, released November 3. Featuring Paul McCartney, Emmylou Harris, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, the record is both a farewell and a reminder: the music never really stops.

A Night of Legacy

Hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, the CMA Awards also showcased collaborations from Post Malone, Morgan Wallen, HARDY, Carly Pearce with Chris Stapleton, and a Judds tribute from Jelly Roll and K. Michelle. But for many, the highlight was Buffett’s salute — not only a goodbye, but a promise that his songs, his spirit, and his dream of Margaritaville will live on.