Elle King joined forces with The Black Keys to pay tribute to the late Country Music Hall of Famer Jerry Lee Lewis at the 56th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
Covering one of Lewis’ biggest songs “Great Balls of Fire,” with no detail missed. King played the piano while wearing black leather pants with “the killer” written across the back.
This acted as an ode to Lewis, as he was a brilliant piano player and was given the nickname “the killer.” It was a fire performance – literally! The top of the piano lit to flames, creating an electrifying finale to the energetic performance.
“I grew up listening to all kinds of Rock & Roll, and Jerry Lee Lewis was definitely part of that,” King shares, owing a lot of her exposure to Lewis to her father, actor and comedian Rob Schneider. While saddened by his loss, King is honored to pay the icon tribute and added, “I mean, it doesn’t hurt that The Black Keys are gonna be up there.”
The Rock N’ Roll pioneer passed away in late October at the age of 87 and, in addition to his recent Country Music Hall of Fame honor, is also a recipient of the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award and a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. Lewis is regarded as the most influential pianist of the 20th century.
Lewis is survived by his wife, Judith Coghlan Lewis, his children Jerry Lee Lewis III, Ronnie Lewis, Phoebe Lewis and Lori Lancaster, sister Linda Gail Lewis, cousin Jimmy Swaggart and many grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Elmo and Mamie Lewis, sons Steve Allen Lewis and Jerry Lee Lewis Jr., his siblings Elmo Lewis Jr. and Frankie Jean Lewis and his cousin Mickey Gilley.
The 56th Annual CMA Awards featured performances from Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Cole Swindell, Cody Johnson, and Carly Pearce.
The show opened with an all-star tribute to the late Loretta Lynn from Underwood, Reba McEntire and Lambert.
Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Jon Pardi, and Lainey Wilson joined together to honor the 2022 CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Alan Jackson.
Additionally, the show included star-studded collaborations from Kelsea Ballerini, Kelly Clarkson and Carly Pearce, HARDY and Lainey Wilson, Elle King with The Black Keys, Brothers featuring The War and Treaty, Thomas Rhett and Katy Perry, Chris Stapleton with Patty Loveless, Zac Brown Band, Jimmie Allen and Marcus King as well as Ashley McBryde with Pillbox Patti, Brandy Clark, Caylee Hammack and John Osborne.
Mookie Betts, BRELAND, Jessica Chastain, Jordan Davis, Sarah Drew, Cole Hauser, Tyler Hubbard, Wynonna Judd, Lady A, Rex Linn, Little Big Town, Parker McCollum, Reba McEntire, Ben and Erin Napier, Jeannie Seely, Michael Shannon, and Lainey Wilson were on hand to present during the ceremony.
Co-hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, the 2022 CMA Awards broadcasted live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and aired on ABC (8:00-11:00 PM/ET).
The CMA Awards will also be available for viewing on Hulu beginning Thursday, Nov. 10.
The 56th Annual CMA Awards was a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton served as the Executive Producer, Alan Carter as the Director, and Jon Macks as the Head Writer.