In a night filled with emotion, history, and music that seemed to echo from the very heart of America, the legendary band Alabama — Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry, and the spirit of the late Jeff Cook — were honored with the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award, one of the highest recognitions in country music.
As the crowd rose to its feet inside the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, the moment felt like a homecoming. For over five decades, Alabama’s music has bridged generations — songs about faith, family, small-town pride, and the everyday struggles that built the American South. From “Mountain Music” and “Song of the South” to “Angels Among Us,” their melodies have stood as a soundtrack to life itself — honest, warm, and unshakably human.
Presenting the award, a visibly moved Kris Kristofferson said,
“Alabama’s genre-rocking style and musical brilliance fits this award like a glove … so deserving. They took country music from the back roads to the world stage — and they did it without ever losing their soul.”
The band’s surviving members, Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry, accepted the honor with humility and grace. Randy, his voice trembling slightly, dedicated the award to their late bandmate, Jeff Cook:
“We started out as three cousins playing for tips in Myrtle Beach, and now here we are, standing where our heroes once stood. Jeff’s up there smiling tonight — I can feel it.”
Teddy added,
“We never played for fame. We just wanted to make music that made people feel something. That’s what country music has always been about — real stories, real hearts.”
As a montage of photos played — dusty vans, early gigs, awards, and family moments — the room fell silent. Even the youngest artists in attendance seemed to recognize they were witnessing something sacred: the celebration of a band that not only shaped country music’s sound, but also its soul.
To close the night, Randy and Teddy performed a stripped-down acoustic version of “My Home’s in Alabama,” joined by a 300-person gospel choir. As the final chorus rose through the hall, the audience stood — not in applause, but in reverence.
For Alabama, this wasn’t just an award.
It was a reflection of everything they stood for — brotherhood, honesty, and the power of a simple song to bring people together.
And as Randy Owen looked skyward, he whispered through a smile,
“This one’s for Jeff. And for every fan who ever believed in us.”
A moment of country music history — sealed forever in harmony.
