Gregg Allman, of The Allman Brothers Band, died on May 27 at age 69, but his spirit lived on at the 2017 CMT Awards.

An opening performance of the classic song “Midnight Rider” was performed by Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley, Jason Aldean, Darius Rucker, and Darius Trucks.

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Though primarily a rock band, the tribute performance was proof of the major influence of The Allman Brothers Band.

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“This is for the one and only Mr. Gregg Allman,” said Aldean before the performance.

Various country singers also spent part of the night remembering Gregg Allman as an artist.

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Allman had contracted hepatitis C from years of substance abuse and went through a liver transplant in 2010.

An official statement posted to his website told the public that Allman “passed away peacefully at his home in Savannah, Georgia … Gregg struggled with many health issues over the past several years. During that time, Gregg considered being on the road playing music with his brothers and solo band for his beloved fans, essential medicine for his soul. Playing music lifted him up and kept him going during the toughest of times.”