During a touching special aired on Circle Network on Saturday, April 29, more than 25 performers and special guests celebrated the life of the beloved actor and comedian Leslie Jordan.
Eddie Vedder, Maren Morris, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Brothers Osborne, Tanya Tucker and more prepared musical performances to honor Leslie, plus one-of-a-kind stories told by his co-stars Max Greenfield, Mayim Bialik and Jim Parsons were included in the tribute.
Throughout his career, Leslie Jordan left a significant mark in the entertainment industry with his supporting roles, notably on shows like Will & Grace, Boston Legal, American Horror Story, and most recently, Call Me Kat. In 2020, during the pandemic quarantine, he garnered even more public knowledge with his uplifting Instagram and TikTok videos for his fellow “hunker-downers,” which gained him a social following of over 6 million. This connection ultimately inspired Jordan’s venture into music later in life, and he released a gospel album in 2021, titled Company’s Comin’, which features collaborations with many country music artists.
Country music singer and friend, Tanya Tucker made her entrance on stage to sing a beautiful rendition of “Delta Dawn,” while wearing a sequined rainbow jacket, most likely in honor of Jordan’s support for the LGBTQ community.
Maren Morris shared a heartfelt performance with “What Would This World Do,” along with her husband Ryan Hurd, while Lainey Wilson and Lukas Nelson conveyed theirs with “You Can’t Make Old Friends,” and Jelly Roll with “Son of a Sinner.”
Before Jelly Roll’s performance, he joked that many didn’t understand his relationship with Leslie. “I’ll tell you what I took away from Leslie’s life more than anything, Leslie looked for what you had in common. He was always looking for a way to connect with people. And we’re in a time right now where people are always looking for a reason not to like people. And Leslie just was an infectious spirit that wanted to bring people together” said Jelly Roll in a backstage interview.
See Jelly Roll’s emotional introduction to his performance below.
In behind-the-scene photos from Circle Network, you can see guests gathered backstage to give their love to one another, sharing laughs and reminiscing about happy memories— showing a prime example of what Leslie Jordan was all about.
Catch ‘Reportin’ For Duty’ Again On Circle Network
If you weren’t able to catch the Leslie Jordan tribute over the weekend, Circle Network is giving you another chance to watch this heartfelt special! We will be re-airing the special this Sunday, May 7th at 7/6 p.m. CT and Monday, May 8th at 1/12 p.m. CT for those who missed it.
