Eric Church & Stephen Wilson Jr. Deliver Show-Stopping Collab of Country Classics

The two artists teamed up for epic performances of Guy Clark and Willie Nelson hits during a concert in Fort Worth.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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During a stop on Eric Church's Free The Machine tour at Dickie's Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, the country star welcomed his opener Stephen Wilson Jr. to the stage for a show-stopping collaboration. The two performed electrifying versions of the Guy Clark classic "Desperados Waiting For A Train" and the Willie Nelson and Ray Charles duet "Seven Spanish Angels", delighting the capacity crowd.

Why it matters

The collaboration between the two artists was highly anticipated, as they are both known for their unique sounds and boundary-pushing approaches to country music. The performance showcased the passing of the torch from an established star like Church to an up-and-coming talent like Wilson, demonstrating the continued vitality and evolution of the genre.

The details

Midway through his own set, Church brought Wilson Jr. back onstage, much to the crowd's delight. The pair first delivered a powerful rendition of the Guy Clark-penned hit "Desperados Waiting For A Train", which has been covered by numerous country legends over the years. They then followed it up with a duet of the Willie Nelson and Ray Charles collaboration "Seven Spanish Angels", one of the greatest country songs ever written.

  • The collaboration took place during Eric Church's concert stop at Dickie's Arena in Fort Worth, Texas on February 28, 2026.

The players

Eric Church

A two-decade veteran of the country music scene, known for his innovative sound and unapologetic artistry.

Stephen Wilson Jr.

A rising country star who previously worked as a food scientist for Mars before making the jump to music, known for his own unique musical vision.

Guy Clark

A legendary country singer-songwriter whose song "Desperados Waiting For A Train" was covered by Church and Wilson Jr.

Willie Nelson

A country music icon whose song "Seven Spanish Angels" was performed by Church and Wilson Jr.

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What they’re saying

“The combination of the two makes too much sense: They're both trailblazers who are unapologetically themselves, with their own sound that pushes the boundaries and sets the standard when it comes to both songwriting and musicianship.”

— Aaron Ryan, Author (whiskeyriff.com)

What’s next

Fans are hoping Church and Wilson Jr. will collaborate again during the next stop on the Free The Machine tour in Austin, Texas.

The takeaway

The powerful collaboration between Eric Church and Stephen Wilson Jr. demonstrated the continued evolution and vitality of country music, as an established star passed the torch to an up-and-coming talent who is poised to carry the genre forward with his own unique vision.