Billy Strings carried out an emotional tribute set on Friday evening in Lexington, Kentucky, simply hours after the passing of his mom, Debra Apostol.
Taking the stage originally of the evening donning a jean jacket and his orange camo hat, the bluegrass star set the tone immediately, telling the group, “That is most likely going to be one of many hardest issues I’ve ever finished… How tonight’s gonna end up is kinda up within the air, it is determined by 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 evening 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 lovely 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to say that after receiving the information he “put my footwear on and began strolling” till he encountered an “outdated nation church,” the place a “variety girl” let him in.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 mentioned.
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 wished me to do.”
“She actually cherished this group of individuals,” he mentioned on to the group. “She cherished y’all a lot. The final couple years had been a few of her happiest due to a whole lot of you people proper right here. Y’all grew to become a few of her finest mates, and I actually wish to thanks for that… The explanation I made a decision to not go residence and be with my household proper now’s 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, they usually 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 right here.
Holy shit that is heavy as fuck. Billy’s mother handed away final evening and this residence 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