CBS Presents "Ringo & Friends at the Ryman," A Two-Hour Special with Ringo Starr

CBS Presents "Ringo & Friends at the Ryman," A Two-Hour Special Featuring Ringo Starr and Some of Country Music's Biggest Names, Airing This Spring

'Ringo & Friends at the Ryman' features Jack White and Sheryl Crow and celebrated the singer's legacy through the lens of country music. It was taped in Nashville this week

Ringo Starr headlines a show at Ryman Auditorium with plenty of guest performers 29 PHOTOS tennessean.com via @Tennessean 

January 14, 2025 (Updated) Featuring Performances and Duets of Songs Spanning Starr's Legendary Career Including Beatles Classics and Songs from His New Country Album Look Up

Guest Stars Included Music Icons Sheryl Crow, Rodney Crowell, Mickey Guyton, Emmylou Harris, Sarah Jarosz, Jamey Johnson, Brenda Lee, Larkin Poe, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, The War And Treaty and Jack White, with More Announced

Proceeds from a One-Time, All-Star Performance at The Ryman of "With a Little Help from My Friends" Will Support the American Red Cross and Those Impacted by the California Wildfires

Taping Jan. 14 and 15 at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, the Special Will Be Produced by Ringo Starr, T Bone Burnett and Gunpowder & Sky's Van Toffler.

CBS presents RINGO & FRIENDS AT THE RYMAN, a two-hour special celebrating the music and legacy of Ringo Starr through the lens of country music, airing this spring on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S. (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs)*.

Taping on Jan. 14 and Jan. 15 at the historic Ryman Auditorium - the "Mother Church of Country Music" - this once-in-a-lifetime event features exclusive performances of Ringo's solo hits, Beatles classics and tracks from his recently released country album Look Up, produced and co-written by T Bone Burnett.

Proceeds from a one-time, all-star performance at The Ryman of "With a Little Help from My Friends" will support the American Red Cross and those impacted by the California wildfires.

An all-star lineup of some of music's hottest names joined Ringo onstage, including Sheryl Crow, Rodney Crowell, Mickey Guyton, Emmylou Harris, Sarah Jarosz, Jamey Johnson, Brenda Lee, Larkin Poe, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, The War And Treaty, Jack White and more. Together, they reimagined some of music's most iconic songs, such as "Boys," "Act Naturally," "With a Little Help from My Friends," "Yellow Submarine," "Don't Pass Me By" and "It Don't Come Easy," blending classic rock with a country twist. Additional guest artists will be announced at a later date.

"It is always a thrill to play the Ryman and this time we are going country!" said Ringo. "T Bone has put together a great show. I'm excited to hear my songs done in a country vein and to play with this incredible group of musicians. It will be two nights of peace, love and country music."

(10 Jan 2025) Ringo Starr - Look Up (Lost Highway Records)

11 songs, 36:57 | Debut #1 UK iTunes Country Album Chart (#8 UK iTunes all-genres) 

REVIEWS: Ringo Starr Exudes Cowboy Cool on ‘Look Up’ New county album is full of the charm and camaraderie that's always made him so lovable – 3.1/2 STARS Rollingstone

There are enough good moments to make this enjoyable, but it’s hard to think of it as much more than an exercise in genre expansion – 3 STARS Faroutmagazine (UK)

That Look Up is relevant enough to appeal beyond longtime fans is partly thanks to musical fashion coming around to Starr. But the former Beatle has the doleful vocal charm to sound at home in country music, the shrewdness to pick the right collaborators, and the sense to—well—act naturally among them. Craggy, wounded, and oddly philosophical, Look Up makes a timely case for Starr as one of the UK’s most convincing country singers, his gritty Liverpool blues stretching right back across the Atlantic. - Pitchfork (6.3/10)

****   USE the Playlist play control 2nd left from top of the screen to see the playlisted..tracks and select one to play from the drop down menu  ***  👇

"There is not a single person in the world who has generated more goodwill than Ringo Starr, and I write this without hyperbole," said Burnett. "This Jan. 14 and 15, an extraordinary group of artists is coming together to help demonstrate that at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. Ringo has been singing and playing country music since before he joined The Beatles, and many, if not most, of his recordings with that band were country songs - "Matchbox," "Honey Don't," "Act Naturally," "What Goes On?," "Don't Pass Me By" and even "Octopus's Garden" is a country song. We don't know which country, but a country song, nevertheless. Nashville is a town full of extraordinary musicians, and a killer band of some of Nashville's most extraordinary musicians will accompany Ringo and the rest of the artists."

"Ringo and his bandmates introduced me and countless others to timeless American rockabilly classics, reimagined with their unique Liverpudlian twist on Carl Perkins and many more," said Toffler. "It's an honor to produce this special with Ringo and T Bone, bringing together some of music's finest who will undoubtedly play the hell out of Ringo's songs, including some Beatles classics. I'm pumped for an unforgettable night at the Mother Church of Country Music, and it feels especially poetic to be airing on the same network that introduced the Beatles to America 61 years ago."

In addition to the performances, the special features Ringo reflecting on country music's influence on his life, The Beatles and his solo career. Guest artists share their personal stories of Ringo's impact on their music, offering fans a unique look at his legacy. Inspired by T Bone Burnett to explore a new musical chapter, Ringo showcases his extraordinary journey through a country music lens.

RINGO & FRIENDS AT THE RYMAN is produced by T Bone Burnett in collaboration with Van Toffler of Gunpowder & Sky. Michael Lohmann ("Nashville," "Boston Legal" and "Patsy & Loretta") will direct.

Ringo Starr and Friends 2025 Set List

Taken from a special showcase at the Ryman Auditorium on January 15, 2025

1.     'Matchbox' (with Jack White)

2.     'It Don't Come Easy' (with Sheryl Crow, Mickey Guyton and Molly Tuttle)

3.     'Time On My Hands' (Ringo solo)

4.     'Octopus' Garden' (Molly Tuttle solo)

5.     'Don't Pass Me By' (Jack White solo)

6.     'Thankful' (with Larkin Poe)

7.     'Honey Don't' (Billy Strings solo)

8.     'Without Her' (The War and Treaty solo)

9.     'I Don't Want to Spoil the Party' (Sheryl Crow and Molly Tuttle)

10.  'Boys' (Sheryl Crow, Molly Tuttle and Larkin Poe, with Ringo on drums) (The Shirelles cover)

11.  'Have You Seen My Baby' (Jamey Johnson solo)

12.  'You Don't Know Me at All' (Mickey Guyton solo)

13.  'Act Naturally' (Rodney Crowell and Sarah Jarosz)

14.  'I Wanna Be Your Man' (Larkin Poe)

15.  'What Goes On' (Billy Strings and Molly Tuttle, with Ringo on drums)

16.  'Look Up' (with Molly Tuttle)

17.  'Photograph' (with Billy Strings)

18.  'Yellow Submarine' (with everyone and Emmylou Harris and Brenda Lee)

19.  'With a Little Help From My Friends' (with everyone and Emmylou Harris and Brenda Lee)

About Ringo Starr

Born: Richard Starkey 7 July 1940 (age 84) Liverpool, England

Throughout his career he has received nine GRAMMY(R) Awards and has twice been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - first as a Beatle and then as solo artist.

Between 1970 and 2023, Ringo has released 20 solo studio records and 4 consecutive EP's in 2020, 2021 and 2023. He has acted in over 15 films, received an Academy Award(R), and has been nominated as an actor for an Emmy(R).

Ringo has published 8 books; had a stint as a male fashion model, and that same year went behind the lens as the photographer for some Foo Fighters PR photos. Ringo is also a visual artist and has had numerous exhibitions of his work and his "Peace Sculpture" is on permanent display in the Beverly Hills Park.

In 2008 Ringo began dedicating his July 7 birthday to promoting Peace and Love and the movement has grown to include events all over the planet and into the stars with support from NASA.

In 2018, Ringo was knighted and in 2019 he celebrated 35 years of touring with his All Starr Bands. In 2022 Ringo received an honorary degree as a Doctor of Music from Berklee College of Music and earlier he was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame with the Joe Chambers Musicians Legacy Award.