Country star Tanya Tucker is a survivor, and Abraham Alexander just released his debut album. These two Texans both graced the T-Mobile stage, delivering unforgettable and inspiring performances. 

Tanya Tucker

In a sparkly, all-white outfit, standing before a pink cowgirl hat display, country queen Tanya Tucker arrived to ravenous applause Saturday, proving she can own a Texas crowd. 

In the midst of a resurgence landing her on October’s Texas Monthly cover, Tucker, whose career kicked off at only 13 with 1972’s “Delta Dawn,” showed that even at 65, she can work the ACL stage. While still recovering from a neck surgery she underwent last month, Tucker didn’t seem to lack any energy, despite poking fun at her age. 

“It’s good to see y’all at ACL,” Tucker said. “We played last week, and then I took a trip to Nashville. I’m moving a little slow today, but that’s OK. You get a little older, you get a little slower.” 

While the audience skewed mostly older at the start of the show, crowds grew by the middle of Tucker’s set, especially once the Seminole, Texas-born singer launched into “Texas (When I Die).” At one point, she joked that she’d never seen so many people and always wanted to play at ACL. 

Tucker even brought her dog Stella Quaid, named for Houstonian actor Dennis Quaid, on stage, cracking up fans as the bulldog rolled around throughout her performance. The audience cheered Stella’s name as the four-legged star made her grand exit. 

The “Two Sparrows In a Hurricane” singer also gave a shout-out to Brandi Carlile, who produced her 2019 album While I’m Livin’ and helped her return to the limelight. Toward the end of the set, Tucker performed a few tracks off her latest album, Sweet Western Sound, with her signature sweet and low, gritty melodies. 

“Thank you for all the number-one songs you’ve given me throughout the years,” Tucker said. 

Abraham Alexander 

In the dead of the steamy afternoon heat Friday, Abraham Alexander made his ACL debut. The 32-year-old singer-songwriter, now on tour promoting his first album SEA/SONS, stopped many festival goers just arriving for the weekend in their tracks with his riveting gospel harmonies, moving lyrics and a jazzy, soulful band.  

“It took us about two hours to get here; I’m a fellow Texan,” Alexander told the crowd. “We’re gonna have a good time and show them what Texas is all about. Y’all dig?” 

Alexander grew up in Greece, but moved to Fort Worth, Texas at age 11, leaving behind racial tensions he said his family experienced abroad. Soon after, he tragically lost his mother in a car accident, which inspired the show’s somber closing song, “Today.” The song starts with, “If I was to die today / What is it I would tell you?” 

Alexander’s band included three backup singers who delivered powerful runs and acapella harmonies, along with a weeping guitar, drums and keys. 

Dressed in a suave white top and shades, Alexander, who also played guitar, managed to get the mid-afternoon crowd swaying their hands and repeating the chorus of “Stay” back and forth with him. He showcased his impressive lush range toward the end of the set. He paid homage to his adopted home, dedicating “Déjà Vu” to the Lone Star State. 

Although Alexander also performed weekend one, he told the crowd only a few songs into his set that he was already enjoying weekend two much more.

“I’m digging this week a lot more than last week, and it is 110% because of you guys out there,” Alexander said. “Thank you for being part of my very first ACL experience.”