CMA Awards: Patty Loveless joins Chris Stapleton in rare live appearance

Last month, Chris Stapleton blew the roof off the “Kentucky Rising” flood relief concert by bringing out Patty Loveless in a rare live appearance. At Wednesday’s CMA Awards in Nashville, the two artists gave a highly anticipated encore.

Stapleton and Loveless performed “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive” on Wednesday’s CMAs. The song, penned by Darrell Scott, was recorded by Loveless for her 2001 album, “Mountain Soul." She opened the song on her own, accompanied only by Stapleton's guitar — with all the passion, finesse and soul you'd expect — before trading verses with the singer and wife/bandmate Morgane Stapleton.

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Commanding a CMA audience appeared to be like riding a bike for Loveless, a five-time CMA winner. The nominees on the stage floor, including Carrie Underwood, Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde, rose to their feet and clapped along as she belted its final refrain.

"Patty Loveless!" Stapleton exclaimed after the ending chord.

Loveless has been largely retired from performing and recording since releasing her final album in 2009. She joined Stapleton, Tyler Childers, Dwight Yoakam and more fellow Kentucky greats at “Kentucky Rising,” held October 11 at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: CMA Awards: Patty Loveless joins Chris Stapleton in rare live appearance