The legendary John Prine, who appeared on Austin City Limits (ACL) eight times during his career, will be posthumously inducted into the ACL Hall of Fame in a special episode of the long-running live-music series. The new episodes, premiering on Saturday, will feature performances by artists paying tribute to Prine, including Tyler Childers, Valerie June, Nathaniel Rateliff, Allison Russell, Kurt Vile, and Prine’s son, Tommy Prine.
Ethan Hawke will deliver a hat-tipping speech inducting John Prine into the ACL Hall of Fame. The episode was originally planned for 2020, but Prine tragically passed away from complications of Covid-19 that year. Terry Lickona, ACL executive producer, explained, “We had planned to induct John into the ACL Hall of Fame in 2020, before he tragically became an early victim of the Covid pandemic. There were many well-deserved tributes at the time, but this year finally felt like the right moment to recognize his long history with ACL. Working closely with John’s family, we created a special celebration of his impact on singers and songwriters across so many genres.”
The performances in the episode showcase the diversity of artists influenced by Prine’s music. Tyler Childers delivers a charming rendition of “Yes I Guess They Oughta Name a Drink After You,” preceded by a humorous speech about Dairy Queen ice cream cakes and Prine. Childers returns for the all-star finale, a rousing singalong of “Paradise” featuring Valerie June, Nathaniel Rateliff, Allison Russell, Kurt Vile, and Prine.
The ACL Hall of Fame celebration for John Prine will premiere on Saturday, Jan. 13, at 8 p.m./ET on PBS and will be available for streaming online starting Jan. 14. In addition to Prine, the ACL Hall of Fame also inducted Trisha Yearwood last year, with her episode scheduled to air on March 2. The special episodes of Austin City Limits honor the impact and contributions of artists who have left a lasting legacy in the world of music.
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