Watch Chris Stapleton Join George Strait for “Pancho and Lefty” at Chicago’s Soldier Field

George Strait and Chris Stapleton continue their tour across the United States. On Saturday (July 20), the pair stopped at Chicago’s Soldier Field to bring a night of country music to fans up north. Both artists delivered hefty sets packed with hits. However, for some fans, the highlight of the show came when Stapleton and Strait came together for a handful of songs.

Strait and Stapleton performed three songs together including their official collaboration “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame.” One of those songs was the country classic “Pancho and Lefty.” Texas singer/songwriter Townes Van Zandt wrote the song but Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson made it famous. Now, this dynamic duo of country musicians is taking up the mantle. Watch them sing the classic together below.

[RELATED: George Strait Announces New Album, Debuts Duet with Chris Stapleton During Indianapolis Show]

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George Strait was joined by Chris Stapleton for an incredible take on “Pancho and Lefty”, and stuck around for a few Stapleton-penned Strait tunes Saturday night at Soldier Field! #chrisstapleton #countrymusic #georgestrait @Chris Stapleton

♬ original sound – 95.3 The Bull

George Strait and Chris Stapleton Cover a Classic Ballad

Van Zandt wrote “Pancho and Lefty” (originally spelled “Poncho and Lefty”) and included it on his 1972 album The Late Great Townes Van Zandt. It would go on to be one of his best-known songs. However, his original rendition of the song would not be what made it famous.

Five years after Van Zandt released “Pancho and Lefty,” Emmylou Harris and Hoyt Axton recorded covers of the song. Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard used the song as the title track to their 1983 duet album. Their version of the song became a No. 1 hit. Additionally, their rendition of the classic joined the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2020.

Van Zandt appears in the official music video for Nelson and Haggard’s version of the song. He portrays the captain of the Federales during the desert scenes. Additionally, during the diner scenes, he’s sitting at a table playing his guitar.

“I realize I wrote it, but it’s hard to take credit for the writing because it came out of the blue,” Van Zandt said. “It came through me and it’s a real nice song,” he added.

After hearing George Strait and Chris Stapleton take on the classic as a duet, one has to wonder if they’ll ever take the song into the studio to make things official.

Featured Image by Debbie Wong