Country Bad Boy Brantley Gilbert Will Perform With Rock Legends Lynyrd Skynyrd On ‘CMT Crossroads’

CMT Crossroads has long been known for bringing country stars together with artists from all different genres of music. On June 27, Crossroads will feature two of the greatest southern rock and country artists the music industry has to offer. Country bad boy Brantley Gilbert will team up with southern rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd for what is sure to be a night of hard rocking, good time, down home country music.

Skynyrd has appeared on Crossroads before in 2004 when they joined up with country duo Montgomery Gentry. They brought the house down playing hits like “Sweet Home Alabama” and the ever famous ballad “Free Bird.” Now, more than 10 years later, Skynyrd will bring their southern rock style back to the Crossroads stage, but sadly they will be missing one key member of the band. Keyboardist Billy Powell died in 2009 from a suspected heart attack. Powell had missed a doctor’s appointment the day before his death for a check-up on his heart, and the very next day he started complaining of shortness of breath and called 911. Rescue crews performed CPR on Powell, but they were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead a short time later.

Gilbert will be making his first appearance on the Crossroads stage, but his hard rocking style with songs like,”Kick It in the Sticks,” “Country Must Be Country Wide,” and “If You Want a Bad Boy” are sure to combine well with the stylings of Skynyrd. Brantley is also not a stranger to a good collaboration. He recently teamed up with pals Justin Moore and Thomas Rhett for the hit song “Small Town Throwdown.”

Skynyrd and Gilbert have more than just music in common. They both sing quite frequently about their faith in God and their personal beliefs about the Second Amendment. Gilbert recently made headlines for a giant tattoo he got covering his entire back and supporting his Second Amendment rights. The tattoo features two huge pistols on either side of Gilbert’s back with the word “Amendment” going from one shoulder to the other. If that did not make his feelings clear enough, he has the words from the Second Amendment underneath the tattoo.

“A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

The Skynyrd and Gilbert episode of Crossroads is set to tape on June 5 in Franklin, Tennessee. While it remains to be seen what songs the two will perform, one has to believe that at least “Sweet Home Alabama” will be in the mix because it fits the vocal style of Gilbert. Until then, Gilbert can be seen on the Big Revival Tour with superstar Kenny Chesney, and Skynyrd is out on tour at various locations through the summer and fall.

[Photo courtesy of Rick Diamond/Getty Images]