Photo Credit: Kevin Wurm
Announces AMERICANAFEST Show September 12 as First Live Show Since 2015 “History of the Eagles Tour” Appearances
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 10, 2025) – When Bernie Leadon embarked on the “History of the Eagles” tour with his former bandmates in 2013, he was sitting on a long and storied music career that he had all but put behind him. Nearly a decade out from releasing 2004’s Mirror, he had wrapped up a majority of his session work with Emmylou Harris’ 2003 Stumble Into Grace and was enjoying life with his family and on his farm in Middle Tennessee.
The reunion with fellow co-founders of the band Don Henley and Glenn Frey, along with Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit, would be Frey’s last tour, and it allowed Leadon a chance to bury the hatchet and make amends after a semi-chaotic end to his journey in the iconic band. It also lit a spark of creativity that was all it took to get him out of his creative hiatus and back into the studio. This time, he wanted to do it his way, so he built a state-of-the-art analog-equipped studio and began collaborating with legendary producer Glyn Johns.
21 years after his last solo release, the first result of this musical kismet will debut on July 18, “Too Many Memories” – a reflection of a life well-lived from a musician who has meant so much to the fabric of American music. Pre-save here: lnk.to/Jvwcve
It was also announced today, in a Rolling Stone exclusive, that Bernie Leadon will join the lineup of AMERICANAFEST, September 9 – 13 and is set to perform on the 12th. The show will be Leadon’s first public performance since 2015 on the “History of the Eagles” tour. AMERICANAFEST festival passes are on sale now. Individual tickets to this performance will be available in the coming weeks.
About Bernie Leadon
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Bernie Leadon is a musician’s musician—revered not only for his instrumental mastery but for his foundational role in shaping the sound of modern American music. A founding member of the Eagles and a pioneer of country-rock, Leadon’s six-decade career has left an indelible mark across bluegrass, folk, rock, and Americana. Born in Minneapolis and raised in Gainesville, Florida, Leadon was steeped in acoustic and bluegrass traditions from an early age. His early work with genre-defining groups like Dillard & Clark and The Flying Burrito Brothers helped set the stage for the Americana movement, fusing traditional instrumentation with a new, forward-thinking songwriting style. These formative years placed him at the heart of a cultural shift that bridged Nashville and roots and rock. In 1971, Leadon co-founded the Eagles alongside Glenn Frey, Don Henley, and Randy Meisner. His signature contributions—on guitar, banjo, mandolin, and harmony vocals—were central to the band’s early sound, most notably on Eagles, Desperado, and One of These Nights. He co-wrote “Witchy Woman” with Henley and helped shape a sound that blended country nuance with rock appeal. His arrangements and performances remain immortalized on Eagles: Greatest Hits 1971–1975, the best-selling album in U.S. history. After stepping away from the Eagles in 1975 to pursue more organic music-making, Leadon built a reputation as one of the most versatile and respected collaborators in the business. His work with artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Stephen Stills, and Alabama showcased his rare musical fluency—equally at home flatpicking an acoustic solo or arranging intricate vocal harmonies. In 1998, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Eagles, further solidifying his legacy. Now, with his first music in over 20 years, Leadon returns to the studio with the same commitment to authenticity that has defined his career. Tracked live to analog tape with no overdubs or digital corrections, the music embraces feel over formula. For Bernie Leadon, music has never been about trends or flash. It’s about truth, craftsmanship, and soul. As both a trailblazer and a torchbearer, he remains a vital link between the roots of American music and its enduring future. For additional information, visit BernieLeadon.ai.
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