Billy Strings carried out an emotional tribute set on Friday night time in Lexington, Kentucky, simply hours after the passing of his mom, Debra Apostol.
Taking the stage in the beginning of the night time donning a jean jacket and his orange camo hat, the bluegrass star set the tone instantly, telling the group, “That is in all probability going to be one of many hardest issues I’ve ever performed… How tonight’s gonna prove is kinda up within the air, it will depend on how a lot power I can muster and the way a lot I can lean on y’all.”
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He then defined that after enjoying in Michigan the night time earlier than, he and his crew drove straight to Lexington, and he lastly fell asleep round 5 a.m. Later that morning, as Strings reported, his spouse woke him up and “instructed me that my stunning mom, Debra Apostol, had handed away in her sleep.”
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Strings continued to say that after receiving the information he “put my sneakers on and began strolling” till he encountered an “outdated nation church,” the place a “form girl” let him in. “She stayed with me and prayed with me for some time, and ultimately gave me a trip again to the place I used to be staying,” he stated.
From there, Strings clarified that he made the choice to proceed with the Lexington live performance “as a result of that’s what my mother would’ve needed me to do.”
“She actually cherished this group of individuals,” he stated on to the group. “She cherished y’all a lot. The final couple years had been a few of her happiest due to quite a lot of you people proper right here. Y’all grew to become a few of her finest pals, and I actually need to thanks for that… The rationale I made a decision to not go dwelling and be with my household proper now could be as a result of I already am.”
He concluded his speech by asking the group to make noise for his departed mom — which they did — whereas he visibly cried. He then welcomed his band to the stage, and so they launched right into a rendition of “I’ve Simply Seen the Rock of Ages” so emotionally-charged that it’s practically surreal, with Strings delivering the lyrics about saying goodbye to your mom as she’s crossing “the river Jordan” to be “homeward certain.”
The present itself was livestreamed, {and professional} video has since been uploaded to YouTube. Watch the clip of Strings talking to the viewers, in addition to some clips of the efficiency itself, beneath.
In the meantime, Strings will play one other present in Lexington tonight, adopted by dates in Australia and New Zealand subsequent month, and one other US leg of tour dates kicking off in August. Get tickets here.
Holy shit that is heavy as fuck. Billy’s mother handed away final night time and this dwelling boy simply owns it and simply comes out and lets it go. Some unimaginable stuff. Wow.
RIP mama strings.. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/u2TqWTC7ca— chuck the wöök (@wook_chuck) June 21, 2025
