Last night, Maren Morris hosted a big show at Morrison, CO’s famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The evening as billed was scheduled to feature a special performance by Morris and the Colorado Symphony, a support spot from Brittney Spencer and a regrouping of The Highwomen, the all-star band consisting of Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, Amanda Shires and “The Middle” singer. However, Spencer was unable to appear at the last minute so Carlile, who turned in a three-night run of her own at the venue this past September, stepped up and offered a surprise opening slot. She also invited Shires out for “Raise Hell” as well as an a cappella version of her own “Kudzu.”

The Highwomen came together in 2019 and released a self-titled studio album on Elektra that September. They have reunited a handful of times since then, most recently at George, WA’s The Gorge this past May during Carlile’s Echoes Through the Canyon event. They are currently working on their sophomore studio effort.

Morris’ dreamGIRL Tour continues this evening at Salt Lake City, UT’s Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre. Meanwhile, Carlile will play a special show at Montauk, NY’s Montauk Point Lighthouse this Thursday, July 23, before heading to Newport, RI’s Newport Folk Fest for a July 26 set billed as Returning to Myself.