Some of country music’s most exciting new voices took to the stage at the famous Nashville Palace honky-tonk for a celebration of Wanted! The Outlaws, the first country music album to ever go Platinum. Presented by Tennessee’s own George Dickel Whisky, the rocking evening paid tribute not only to the history-making 1976 record and other Outlaw Country classics, but also celebrated the 10th anniversary of Rolling Stone Country. 

Rolling Stone publisher and EVP Brian Szejka and RSC Senior Editor Joseph Hudak welcomed the crowd with Dickel in hand, toasting RSC’s decade of music coverage and readying attendees for a night of outstanding outlaw country music. 

Silverada (formerly Mike and the Moonpies) backed each of the acts during their performances, but also put their own Texas-tinged spin on Waylon Jennings’ “Honky Tonk Heroes” and “Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink” by Merle Haggard.

Alabama native Taylor Hunnicutt lent her raspy vocals to “Good Hearted Woman” by Willie Nelson and Jennings and Johnny Paycheck’s “Can’t Quit Drinking.” 

Grammy-nominated Brent Cobb brought his Georgia boy swagger to two Willie favorites: “Me and Paul” and “Yesterday’s Wine,” before welcoming songbird Maggie Rose to the stage for a bring-the-house-down performance of “Suspicious Minds,” Wanted! The Outlaws’ iconic duet between Jennings and Jessi Colter. 

Rose then took center stage for a solo performance of Jennings’ “Ain’t Living Long Like This.” Her powerful vocals stopped a maximum capacity-room full of guests in their tracks. 

And just when music (and Dickel whisky) lovers thought it couldn’t get any better, the entire group took the stage for a singalong version of Willie’s “On the Road Again.” The rousing performance had everyone swaying and singing along, with Dickel cocktails raised high.

The night’s signature cocktails did what Outlaw Country and George Dickel do best by blending tradition with out-of-the-box style. Drinks like Suspicious Minds (George Dickel Rye, ginger beer and peach bitters); Old Fashion Roots (George Dickel Bourbon, root beer reduction, sassafras bitters and Angostora); and the Outlaw Old Fashioned (George Dickel Bourbon, simple syrup, orange bitters and Angostora) combined the rich flavor of Dickel Whisky with some surprising complementary flavors, while the traditional Loveable Losers offered purists a shot of George Dickel Bourbon or Rye and an ice-cold beer. 

From Outlaw Country to creative cocktails, it was a night to celebrate history-making music and industry-changing whisky.