SHEFFIELD – After sold-out performances in 2024 and 2025, Colbert County Tourism is
bringing its popular We Rocked the World show back to The Ritz Theatre with a new lineup and
another take on the music that put Muscle Shoals on the map.
This year’s Tribute to Muscle Shoals Music will be held Thursday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. and will
feature T. Graham Brown, Angela Hacker, James LeBlanc, Billy Lawson and Wishbone, along
with special performances recognizing America’s 250th anniversary. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
The lineup brings together nationally recognized artists and songwriters with deep ties to the
Muscle Shoals music story. T. Graham Brown is a Grammy-nominated country artist known for
hits including “Hell and High Water,” “Darlene” and “I Tell It Like It Used to Be.” Angela Hacker,
a Muscle Shoals native, gained national recognition as the winner of Nashville Star in 2007.
James LeBlanc is the hit songwriter behind songs including Travis Tritt’s “Modern Day Bonnie
and Clyde” and Jason Aldean’s “Relentless,” with songs recorded by artists including Rascal
Flatts, Martina McBride and Kenny Chesney.
Billy Lawson, owner of Wishbone Recording Studio in Muscle Shoals, has written songs
recorded by some of country music’s biggest names. His songwriting credits include the No. 1
hits “I Left Something Turned On at Home” by Trace Adkins and “Learning As You Go” by Rick
Trevino. Lawson will also perform with Wishbone, bringing another piece of Muscle Shoals
recording history to the Ritz stage.
Each year, We Rocked the World takes a slightly different approach to celebrating the songs,
artists, musicians and stories connected to the area’s musical history. After packing the Ritz for
the past two years, the show returns in 2026 with another lineup celebrating the music that has
carried the Muscle Shoals name around the world.
“Muscle Shoals has always been about the songs and the people behind them,” said Lawson.
“This show gives us a chance to get together, play some great music and celebrate something
that means a lot to all of us. There’s nothing quite like doing that here at home.”
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the response to We Rocked the World over the past several
years, and we’re excited to bring it back with another great lineup,” said Susann Hamlin,
President and CEO of Colbert County Tourism. “Muscle Shoals music is an important part of
Colbert County’s story and our contribution to American music history. There’s something
special about celebrating that music right here at home with the people who know it and love
it.”
This year’s concert is also part of Colbert County Tourism’s recognition of America 250, the
nationwide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. The evening will
celebrate the role Muscle Shoals music has played in the American story and the songs and
artists that continue to connect the area to audiences around the world.
Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Caringplace of the Shoals, a Shoals nonprofit that
provides assistance to individuals and families throughout the area, including Colbert County.
“We’re grateful to be part of an evening that celebrates the music of our area while also giving
back to the community,” said Nicole Fults, Executive Director of the Caringplace of the Shoals.
“This support will help us continue serving our neighbors throughout the Shoals.”
Tribute to Muscle Shoals Music will be held Thursday, Oct. 8, at The Ritz Theatre, 111 W. 3rd
St. in Sheffield. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the concert begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $40 for
orchestra seating and $30 for balcony seating and are available at ColbertCountyTourism.org
or in person at the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art. With We Rocked the World selling out in
both 2024 and 2025, advance ticket purchases are encouraged.
Media Release/Maryanne Floyd
Director of Communications/Colbert County Tourism
