# “We Know Kris Loves Merle”: Willie Nelson’s Son and Miranda Lambert Honored Kris Kristofferson With One of the Greatest Tribute Covers You’ll Ever Hear

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/we-know-kris-loves-merle-willie-nelsons-son-and-miranda-lambert-honored-kris-kristofferson-with-one-of-the-greatest-tribute-covers-youll-ever-hear/
- Published: 2026-07-21T18:19:31+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-21T19:49:31+00:00
- Original publisher: American Songwriter
- Original article: https://americansongwriter.com/we-know-kris-loves-merle-willie-nelsons-son-and-miranda-lambert-honored-kris-kristofferson-with-one-of-the-greatest-tribute-covers-youll-ever-hear/
- Topics: Entertainment, Middle East, Music, World

## Key points

- Miranda Lambert and Lukas Nelson covered Merle Haggard's "Silver Wings" to honour Kris Kristofferson.
- The tribute took place at the Music For Mutts benefit concert in Nashville.
- Lambert had previously performed the song with Kristofferson, including at the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors.

## Summary

Country stars Miranda Lambert and Lukas Nelson (Willie Nelson's son) paid tribute to the late singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson with a live cover of Merle Haggard's "Silver Wings" at the Music For Mutts benefit concert in Nashville. Lambert introduced the performance by explaining that she and Nelson chose a Haggard song specifically because they knew how much Kristofferson admired him, framing it as a heartfelt tribute to a friend and hero shortly after his death.

Haggard originally released "Silver Wings" in 1969, and Kristofferson was known to perform it regularly at his own shows; Lambert herself had previously sung it alongside Kristofferson, including at the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors ceremony celebrating Haggard. Following Kristofferson's death in 2024, Lambert also shared a tribute on Instagram thanking him and calling him "forever a hero." The article notes Lambert is currently preparing to release her new album, Crisco, on 2 October, which draws on 1970s and 1980s country influences.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.