It’s 1999. You’re 11 years old, and it’s a school night, so you’re rushing to get your homework done, hoping to catch a little TV time afterward. Maybe you’re thinking about watching Johnny Tsunami on Disney Channel. But as you make your way to the living room, you notice your parents already planted in front of the TV for the 33rd Annual CMA Awards.
You plop down beside them, ready for some music magic — but what you see next is nothing like you expected. It’s Alan Jackson and George Strait on stage, sending a loud and clear “F-YOU” to Nashville’s Music Row. They’re performing Murder On Music Row, a song that would become legendary not just for its catchy chorus but for its bold, unapologetic message.
Back in 1999, country music was riding high, its popularity reaching a peak. But there was a storm brewing. The genre was starting to blend with pop influences, and fans who revered traditional country were not having it. Enter Jackson and Strait — two of country’s biggest stars, stepping up to make a stand.
That night, they performed Murder On Music Row, a song written by Larry Cordle and Larry Shell that spoke to the death of authentic, old-school country. The lyrics were a blistering commentary on how the soul of country music was being replaced by pop influences.
“For the steel guitars no longer cry,
And the fiddles barely play,
But drums and rock ‘n’ roll guitars,
Are mixed up in your face.
Ol’ Hank wouldn’t have a chance,
On today’s radio,
Since they committed murder,
Down on music row…”
This performance was electric — a pointed, rebellious declaration in the heart of Nashville, calling out the industry’s new direction. And, let’s be real, the CMA Awards haven’t allowed a moment like this since. Today, we know this kind of honest, hard-hitting commentary would never make it past the CMA censors. But back then, it was a moment of raw truth.
Now, let’s talk about the song’s journey. Murder On Music Row was originally recorded by Cordle and Shell’s bluegrass band, Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time, in 1999. But when Alan Jackson and George Strait took it on, the song became an anthem — especially among fans of the traditional sound who felt country music was losing its soul.
Their performance at the 1999 CMA Awards made the song even more powerful, and it ended up being included on George Strait’s Latest Greatest Straitest Hits album in 2000. Ironically, it went on to win Song of the Year at the 2000 CMAs — just a year after they had performed it as a direct challenge to the industry. Talk about the ultimate twist!
Dierks Bentley & George Jones Cover Of “Murder On Music Row”
But the Murder On Music Row saga didn’t end there. In 2007, Dierks Bentley and the legendary George Jones teamed up for a cover of the song, recorded for a special Cracker Barrel album, Songs of the Year. This version flew under the radar for many country fans, but it’s a hidden gem. Both Bentley and Jones bring their own unique flair to the song, and it’s well worth a listen for anyone who’s ever loved traditional country.
It’s crazy to think about how a simple song like Murder On Music Row could stir up so much controversy, but that’s what made it unforgettable. It wasn’t just a song — it was a statement, a rebellion against the industry’s changing tides, and a moment in time where the true heart of country music was unapologetically put on display.
Let’s be honest: these days, a performance like Jackson and Strait’s at the 1999 CMAs would never fly. But back then, they reminded us all of what real country music was — and the kind of songs that could never be replaced by pop influences.
