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Luke Bryan paid tribute to legendary King of Country George Strait during the season premiere of American Idol on Sunday evening (March 9).
“Of course I gotta sit in and sing some King George when I hear ‘The Fireman,’” Bryan exclaimed as he shared the clip on Instagram. The Mind Of A Country Boy hitmaker sat at the piano and sang as an Idol hopeful, Crews Wright, an Alabama country singer clad in a cowboy hat and accompanied by an acoustic guitar, performed the classic Strait anthem. Fellow country artist Carrie Underwood, who made her debut as a judge 20 years after winning the show, cheered after the performance. Lionel Richie agreed, “you’re gonna go places, son.”
Strait released “The Fireman” on his 10-track studio album, Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind, in 1984. The legendary country star is also known for “Check Yes Or No,” “Write This Down,” “Carrying Your Love With Me,” “Amarillo By Morning,” “All My Ex’s Live In Texas,” “Carried Away” and many other unforgettable songs throughout his decades-long career.
“Hey, they call me the fireman, that's my name/ Makin' my rounds all over town/ Puttin' out old flames/ Hey, well, everybody'd like to have what I've got/ I can cool 'em down when they're smolderin' hot/ I’m the fireman, that's my name”
“You ever been to Hollywood?” Bryan asked Wright. Wright replied, “well, it’s been on my bucket list.” Richie laughed as Bryan wondered, “do you ever just say ‘yes’ or ‘no?’”