Billy Strings performs “Leaning on a Travelin’ Song” on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”

2x Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician Billy Strings appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” last night, where he performed his song “Leaning on a Travelin’ Song.” Watch/share HERE.

 

The performance adds to an already landmark year for Strings, whose most recent full-length album, Highway Prayers, is nominated for Best Bluegrass Album at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. Produced by Strings and Jon Brion (Fiona Apple, Mac Miller, Aimee Mann) and released via Reprise Records, the album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s all-genre Top Album Sales Chart—the first bluegrass album in 22 years to do so—and continues to receive widespread acclaim, with GQ calling Strings “the hottest roots-music phenomenon in decades” and Pitchfork praising, “the bluegrass wunderkind expands his palette, exploring new textures and emotional registers while staying true to his beloved genre.” Listen to Highway Prayers HERE.

 

 

Following Highway Prayers, Strings released an exclusive Apple Music Nashville Sessions EP featuring reworked songs from the record as well as a surprise collaborative album, Live at the Legion, with Sutton (stream/purchase here). Recorded live on April 7, 2024 at Nashville’s American Legion Post 82, the album showcases the acclaimed duo performing 20 traditional bluegrass and folk songs, including new renditions of Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright,” Doc Watson’s “Way Downtown” and more.

 

In support of the music, Strings was recently featured on NPR’s Fresh Air and appeared on The Howard Stern Show, where he performed “Escanaba” and spoke with the host. Strings will continue his extensive headline tour through next year with stops at Louisville’s KFC Yum! Center (two nights), Athens’ Akins Ford Arena (two nights), Asheville’s ExploreAshville.com Arena (four nights) and Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena (two nights), followed by an exclusive performance at the Ryman Auditorium. See below for complete tour itinerary.

 

Since his 2017 debut, Strings has been awarded Best Bluegrass Album at the 67th and 63rd Grammy Awards, Artist of the Year at the 2023 and 2022 Americana Music Awards, Entertainer of the Year at the 2025, 2023, 2022 and 2021 International Bluegrass Music Awards, Best New Headliner at the 2022 Pollstar Awards and Breakthrough Artist of the Pandemic at the 2021 Pollstar Awards among several other accolades. He has also performed on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” PBS’ “Austin City Limits” and “Bluegrass Underground” as well as countless sold-out shows worldwide.

 

BILLY STRINGS CONFIRMED TOUR DATES
December 5—Louisville, KY—KFC Yum! Center (SOLD OUT)
December 6—Louisville, KY—KFC Yum! Center (SOLD OUT)
December 10—Tulsa, OK—BOK Center
December 12—Fort Worth, TX—Dickies Arena
December 13—Austin, TX—Moody Center
December 14—Austin, TX—ACL Live at the Moody Theater (SOLD OUT)
February 6—Athens, GA—Akins Ford Arena (SOLD OUT)
February 7—Athens, GA—Akins Ford Arena (SOLD OUT)
February 10—Asheville, NC—ExploreAsheville.com Arena (SOLD OUT)
February 11—Asheville, NC—ExploreAsheville.com Arena (SOLD OUT)
February 13—Asheville, NC—ExploreAsheville.com Arena (SOLD OUT)
February 14—Asheville, NC—ExploreAsheville.com Arena (SOLD OUT)
February 20—Nashville, TN—Bridgestone Arena
February 21—Nashville, TN—Bridgestone Arena
February 22—Nashville, TN—Ryman Auditorium† (SOLD OUT)