Lainey Wilson Surprises Fans With John Mayer Appearance for ‘Phone, Keys, Wallet’ Live Debut at Country Music Hall of Fame Event
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Wilson also shared the stage with Lukas Nelson and Jelly Roll during the annual All for the Hall event.
The 34-year-old country singer spent much of Thursday night, Sept. 17, sharing songs and stories alongside Jelly Roll and Lukas Nelson. But when it came time to close out her portion of the evening, Wilson brought an unexpected guest to the stage: John Mayer.
Mayer, 48, joined Wilson at the Novo for the first live performance of their collaboration, “Phone, Keys, Wallet.” The appearance came as a surprise to the audience and marked the first time the pair had performed the song together in front of a live crowd.
Wilson explained that Mayer had been on her mind when she and her collaborators originally wrote the track.
“When we wrote this song, I remember thinking there was somebody in particular who needed to play on it,” she told the audience.
She recalled that the song was written at Chaplin Studios in Los Angeles, where the team learned Mayer was nearby. They reportedly took the opportunity to play him the song through a cellphone speaker.
“And it was Mr. John Mayer,” Wilson said before inviting him onto the stage.
Mayer remembered the encounter as well, telling the crowd, “I said, ‘Let’s go!’” before grabbing his guitar.
The two musicians then performed “Phone, Keys, Wallet,” with Mayer delivering one of his trademark guitar solos to bring the collaboration to a close.
The surprise appearance capped a night filled with acoustic performances from Wilson, Nelson, 37, and Jelly Roll, 41. The annual event raises money for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s educational programs, which reach more than 125,000 people each year.
Wilson performed several songs from her catalog, including “4x4xU,” “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” and “Heart Like a Truck.” She also joined Nelson for “More Than Friends” before the pair performed “You Can’t Make Old Friends” as a tribute to Dolly Parton.
Nelson took the spotlight for several of his own songs, including “Find Yourself,” which earned the evening’s only standing ovation. Jelly Roll performed fan favorites such as “I Am Not Okay,” “Need a Favor” and “Save Me.”
Throughout the evening, Wilson, Nelson and Jelly Roll kept the atmosphere light with plenty of conversation and jokes. Their discussions touched on a range of personal topics, including Wilson’s May wedding and Nelson’s new relationship.