Marty Stuart had just finished his tour with Merle Haggard, The Old Crow Medicine Show and his wife, Connie Smith.

However, due to incredibly hot weather, the tour was unsuccessful at the box office, which left Stuart feeling distraught.

He was not at all in the mood to create any more music for a while, but nonetheless called up bluegrass legends Charlie Cushman, "Uncle" Josh Graves and Stuart Duncan, as well as the iconic announcer and radio D.J.

The performers met at the Ryman on the afternoon of the concert, and spent no more than twenty minutes choosing their songs and rehearsing them.

The concert proved to be a success, and after leaving the stage, Les Banks handed Stuart two CDs and told him that he should listen to it.