ERNEST & Friends Bring Songwriter Magic To Stars For Second Harvest [Recap]

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Headliner Ella Langley and host of the night ERNEST sing a duet-style version of “Loving Life Again,” a co-write between the two from Langley’s record-breaking new album, Dandelion. Photo: Blue Weidemann

ERNEST welcomed an all-star lineup of friends and collaborators to the Ryman Auditorium on Tuesday night (June 2) for Stars For Second Harvest, benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. The evening showcased Nashville’s songwriting community with an intimate writers round before transitioning into a full-band performance featuring Ella Langley. Overall, the event raised $445,000 for Second Harvest Food Bank.

The evening opened with an intimate writers round featuring ERNEST, HARDY, Lee Thomas Miller and Dean Dillon, who traded songs and stories throughout the set in classic Nashville fashion.

ERNEST contributed performances of the unreleased “Willie Songs,” Morgan Wallen’s “Wasted On You,” his own “Would If I Could” which was written by Dillon, and his Wallen collaboration “Flower Shops,” delivering the latter without a microphone and allowing the Ryman’s renowned acoustics to fill the room. HARDY offered his own “Favorite Country Song,” Wallen’s “More Than My Hometown,” the star-studded collaboration “McArthur,” and “Bottomland.”

ERNEST sound checks at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium before Stars for Second Harvest 2026. Photo: Blue Weidemann

Miller showcased his celebrated catalog with a medley of Brad Paisley’s “Perfect Storm,” “I’m Still A Guy,” and “The World,” before continuing with Trace Adkins’ “You’re Gonna Miss This,” Chris Stapleton’s “Whiskey And You,” and Jamey Johnson’s “In Color.” Dillon delivered George Strait’s “Marina Del Rey,” “The Chair,” and “Here For A Good Time,” closing with Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey.”

The evening then shifted into a full-band set, with Langley bringing an acoustic-leaning, rootsy energy to the Ryman stage. Langley opened the segment with “Dandelion,” “I Gotta Quit,” “Somethin’ Simple,” “You And Me Time” and “20/20.”

“I’m always running around flinging my hair and entertaining [while on tour],” Langley shared from stage. “So tonight, I just wanted to sit here and sing these songs and tell the stories behind them.”

She then continued with “Broken” and “Nicotine.” Langley then debuted “We Know Us” live for the first time, drawing an enthusiastic response from the crowd.

Later in the set, Langley performed “Be Her” before welcoming JoyBeth Taylor and Ashley Dalton to the stage for “Speaking Terms.” The audience also joined in for Langley’s breakthrough hit “You Look Like You Love Me.”

ERNEST returned to join Langley on “Loving Life Again,” while the set continued with smash hit “Choosin’ Texas” and concluded with “Weren’t For The Wind.”

Dean Dillon, Lee Thomas Miller, HARDY, and ERNEST earn a standing ovation following a show-stopping writer’s round performance on Tuesday night at Stars for Second Harvest 2026. Photo: Blue Weidemann

Pictured (L-R): ERNEST, HARDY, Lee Thomas Miller and Dean Dillon. Photo: Tanner Gallagher

Photo: Blue Weidemann

ERNEST. Photo: Blue Weidemann

Madison Hahnen
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