12 Country Music Legends Who Are Still Performing
If you’ve been listening to some of these country music artists for decades, you may be surprised and delighted to know that they are still out there performing. Some are headlining farewell tours, while others have new albums to share with fans.
With the unexpected passing of Dolly Parton on August 25, 2026, we rounded up a list of some classic country favorites who are still alive to find out what they’ve been up to and where you can catch them on tour or for a special performance. Plus, learn more about a special tribute to Ray Stevens that will bring several longtime stars to Nashville.
Willie Nelson
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Willie Nelson may have turned 93 this year, but he’s still recording new music and touring. His most recent album, Dream Chaser, arrived in May 2026 and became his 79th solo studio album. It includes “I Can’t Read Your Mind,” which he wrote with Bob Dylan and producer Buddy Cannon.
Long before he sang “On the Road Again” and “Always on My Mind,” Nelson wrote songs other artists made famous, including Patsy Cline‘s “Crazy.” These days, his schedule still includes appearances with other music legends. He’s booked to play with Neil Young in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on September 22 and Philadelphia on September 24, followed by Farm Aid in Virginia Beach on September 26. Get a full list of his tour dates here.
The Gatlin Brothers
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The Gatlin Brothers are all in their 70s now: Larry Gatlin is 78, Steve is 75, and Rudy is 74. The brothers began singing together as children, and Nashville celebrated their 70 years in music with a tribute at the Ryman Auditorium in February 2026.
Now they’re preparing to say goodbye to the road, although fans still have some time to catch them live. Their Farewell Celebration Tour opened on September 8 in Oxford, Mississippi, with announced dates running through March 2027. The shows will include personal videos and stories, along with songs such as “All the Gold in California,” “Broken Lady,” and “Houston (Means I’m One Day Closer to You).” Larry has said they’re considering May 2028 as a potential retirement date. Get a full list of tour dates here.
Alabama
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Randy Owen, 76, and Teddy Gentry, 74, are still touring as Alabama following the death of their cousin and fellow founding member Jeff Cook in 2022. The group behind “Mountain Music” and “Dixieland Delight” started out as Wildcountry before changing its name to Alabama in 1977.
The band’s fall concert calendar includes Grand Rapids, Michigan, on September 12 and St. Augustine, Florida, on October 17. The Oak Ridge Boys are joining them for October shows in Pennsylvania and Kentucky, giving fans a chance to hear two longtime favorites in one evening. Get a full list of tour dates here.
George Strait
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Remember The Cowboy Rides Away Tour? Its finale was back in 2014, but Strait has continued to play select concerts since then. Now 74, he performed two sold-out nights at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas, on April 24 and 25, 2026. Zach Top and Miranda Lambert were among the artists who joined him.
In 2025, Strait also helped raise money for families affected by the July floods in the Texas Hill Country. He and his Vaqueros del Mar partner Tom Cusick hosted a benefit dinner and concert that month, raising $6.25 million. Garth Brooks made a surprise appearance, joining Strait for “The Fireman.” Get a full list of his tour dates here.
Crystal Gayle
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Gayle (Loretta Lynn‘s sister) turned 75 in January, and fans still have chances to hear the singer behind “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue,” “Talking in Your Sleep” and “Half the Way.” The year began with a setback. In a January interview with People, she explained that a torn meniscus had forced her to cancel an appearance in Belfast, Northern Ireland. She also said she wanted to be more active with her grandson as she recovered.
She’s joining the Gatlin Brothers for a Country & Christmas concert at the Family Arena in St. Charles, Missouri, on December 17. Each act will perform a full set of hits and Christmas music. Get a full list of tour dates here.
Gene Watson
Before country fans knew him for “Love in the Hot Afternoon,” “Paper Rosie,” and “Farewell Party,” Watson worked on cars during the day and sang in clubs at night. At 82, he still makes time for both music and engines.
In an August update on his website, Watson said he’d recently built an engine for his son’s car. He also stopped at a car and truck show before a concert in Clay City, Kentucky, where he checked out a 1969 Chevrolet C10.
Watson continues to travel with his Farewell Party Band. His September newsletter invited fans to upcoming fall concerts in Branson, Missouri, and announced an October 25 appearance at the Grand Ole Opry. He turns 83 on October 11. Get a full list of his tour dates here.
The Oak Ridge Boys
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Duane Allen, 83, and William Lee Golden, 87, are still performing with the Oak Ridge Boys. Fellow longtime member Richard Sterban, 83, returned to the Grand Ole Opry stage for two appearances in January after time away. Ben James took over Joe Bonsall’s tenor role in 2024, before Bonsall’s death later that year.
There’s new music coming from the group behind “Elvira,” too. Their album Buried Treasures is due October 30, 2026 and includes recordings of “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Lean on Me,” and “How Great Thou Art.” The title track, “Buried Treasure,” was released September 2. The group’s American Made Farewell Tour is continuing, with October appearances alongside Alabama in University Park, Pennsylvania, and Highland Heights, Kentucky. Get a full list of tour dates here.
Emmylou Harris
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At 79, Harris is saying goodbye to European touring while continuing to perform in the United States. In February 2026, she joined Alison Krauss and Molly Tuttle at the Grand Ole Opry to sing “Didn’t Leave Nobody But the Baby” during a celebration of O Brother, Where Art Thou? Harris and Krauss had recorded the song with Gillian Welch for the film’s soundtrack.
She’s also continuing her work with Bonaparte’s Retreat, the dog rescue organization she founded in 2004. On September 24, she is scheduled to perform with Tom Rush at City Winery Nashville for Woofstock at the Winery, a benefit for the rescue. Her fall calendar also includes appearances at the Masonic in San Francisco on October 1 and Golden Gate Park on October 2. Get a full list of tour dates here.
Ray Stevens
Stevens, 87, gave us plenty to laugh about with “The Streak” and “Mississippi Squirrel Revival,” but he also showed his serious side with the Grammy-winning “Everything Is Beautiful.” He released Favorites Old & New in April 2026, bringing together standards such as “The Look of Love” and “It Had to Be You” with newer songs.
This fall, some familiar country voices are gathering to celebrate him. Don’t Look Ethel! A Salute to the Musical Genius of Ray Stevens is set for November 9 at Nashville’s Opry House. Ronnie Milsap, the Gatlin Brothers, Ricky Skaggs, Lee Greenwood and Mark Chesnutt are among the artists scheduled to perform. Cledus T. Judd will host, and Randy Travis is set to make a special appearance.
Brenda Lee
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Brenda Lee isn’t currently on tour, but “Little Miss Dynamite” is still showing up for special events. She was a special guest at the ACM Honors in Nashville on Aug. 19, 2026, where she got the crowd singing along to her holiday classic “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” She also joined members of the Carter Family for “Can the Circle Be Unbroken (By and By).”
Lee has enjoyed an unexpected new chapter in her career thanks to the continued popularity of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” The song finally reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2023, 65 years after she recorded it as a teenager.
Ronnie Milsap
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Ronnie Milsap may not keep a regular touring schedule these days, but he hasn’t stopped performing. The Grand Ole Opry celebrated his 50th anniversary as a member on Feb. 24, 2026. Milsap sat down at the piano to perform “Smoky Mountain Rain” during a show that also included Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Vince Gill, Trace Adkins, and others.
Fans have another opportunity to see him this fall. Milsap is among the performers scheduled for Don’t Look Ethel! A Salute to the Musical Genius of Ray Stevens at the Grand Ole Opry House on Nov. 9. He released his latest album, a 10-track collection titled A Better Word for Love, on April 30, 2021.
Bill Anderson
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Bill Anderson has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1961, and he’s still taking the stage. On July 18, 2026, the Opry celebrated his 65th anniversary as a member. That made “Whisperin’ Bill” the first performer in the Opry’s history to reach the 65-year milestone.
Anderson also received the ACM Icon Award at the ACM Honors in August. Fans can also catch him at several upcoming Grand Ole Opry shows. He’s scheduled to perform during the Opry’s Birthday Weekend on Oct. 3, followed by appearances on Oct. 31 and Nov. 6. Get a full list of his tour dates here.
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Kings Of Country
March 2022
From outlaws Willie & Waylon to the Man in Black, Johnny Cash, we have every tear in your beer covered
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