On Monday May 4th, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the iconic Fender Telecaster guitar, Fender transformed Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium into “Tele Town”, a star-studded tribute to the instrument that helped shape the sound of modern music. Bringing together legendary players, contemporary stars and emerging talent, the one-night-only event honoured the Telecaster’s enduring legacy across country, rock, blues and beyond.
Hosted by renowned Nashville guitarist and Telecaster historian Zac Childs, the evening celebrated both the instrument’s pioneering design and its deep connection to Music City. Fender CEO Edward “Bud” Cole opened proceedings with a tribute to the Telecaster’s remarkable impact on generations of artists.
“75 years ago, Leo Fender had a pretty simple idea: to build a guitar that worked for players. Great tone. Reliable. Zero fuss. What came out of that was the Fender Telecaster. And it ended up shaping the sound of modern music,” Cole said. “From James Burton to George Harrison to Sheryl Crow and the incredible artists on this stage tonight – generations have picked it up and made it their own. And there’s no better place to celebrate that than right here in Nashville. This city didn’t just embrace the Telecaster. It helped define it.”
Musical director Derek Wells led the house band throughout the evening, backing a wide-ranging lineup of performers and collaborations. The night began by spotlighting the next generation of Telecaster players, with Nate Gregory and Mateus Canteri delivering an explosive rendition of “Country Blues Shuffle,” before Luke McQueary paid tribute to Johnny Cash with “Orange Blossom Special.”
Female artists also featured prominently throughout the celebration. Andrea Benz and Maggie Baugh teamed up for Sheryl Crow’s “Soak Up The Sun,” while Emma Zinck honoured Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders with “Back of The Chain Gang.”The Telecaster’s influence on session and touring culture was highlighted by acclaimed guitarist Brent Mason, who delivered standout performances of “Blowing Smoke” and “Gator Bite.” Guthrie Trapp later joined John Oates for a soulful rendition of “Please Send Me Someone To Love.”
Contemporary country star Zach Top represented the Telecaster’s modern torchbearers with a performance of his hit “I Never Lie,” accompanied by Mason. Blues sensation Christone “Kingfish” Ingram followed with passionate takes on “Fresh Out” and Prince’s “Cream.”One of the evening’s most memorable collaborations came when Jessie James Decker debuted a special rendition of “Luxury Liner” alongside bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs, guitar virtuosos Tommy Emmanuel and Trey Hensley. Meanwhile, hard-rocking duo Brothers Osborne tore through “Muskrat Greene” and “Deadman’s Curve.”
Sister act Larkin Poe captivated the crowd with “Bad Spell,” joined by surprise guest Billy Gibbons, while Emmanuel later returned to the stage for a stirring rendition of “Hearts Grow Fonder.”
Country music heritage was celebrated when Skaggs honoured Waylon Jennings with “Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line” before closing with his own “Heartbroke.” Another major highlight came with a surprise appearance from Jack White, whose electrifying performance of The White Stripes classic “Ball and Biscuit” brought a raw rock edge to the night.In one of the evening’s most emotional moments, Childs unveiled legendary guitarist James Burton’s famous red Telecaster, giving fans a rare close-up look at one of the most storied guitars in music history. Burton originally purchased the guitar in 1952 at age 13. Initially finished in Butterscotch Blonde, the instrument was later refinished in a custom “Coronado Red” shade to match Burton’s Cadillac.
The evening reached its finale with Fender signature artist Brad Paisley welcoming Burton to the stage for a celebratory tribute performance featuring many of the night’s artists. Burton appeared wearing the same jacket he wore while performing with Elvis Presley during Presley’s final 1977 tour.
Paisley then led the audience through performances of “Working Man Blues,” “The Nervous Breakdown” and “Alcohol,” before presenting Burton with the 001 prototype of Paisley’s hand-built and hand-painted 1967 “Lost Paisley” Telecaster — a fitting tribute to one of the instrument’s greatest pioneers.
“Tele Town” served as an apt celebration of the Telecaster’s unmatched influence on modern music, bringing together generations of players whose artistry continues to define the sound and spirit of the legendary guitar.
