Stagecoach this past weekend felt more like a lineup of the most unexpected crossover episodes than a traditional country music festival. The 3-day event, taking place April 25th through the 27th, was jam-packed with an assortment of country artists, along with other big names from varying genres, which of course made leadway to some epic on-stage duets and surprise performances.
From Lana Del Rey singing with Jelly Roll to Jeff Bezos front row at Zach Bryan’s set, it was certainly an interesting turn of events. However, one of the most iconic performances of the weekend would have to be the Backstreet Boys bringing Luke Combs on stage to perform their 1999 smash hit, “I Want It That Way.”
Both Combs and the Backstreet Boys headlined Sunday night, with Combs taking the stage at 9:30 p.m. before making a surprise return during the boy band’s “Late Night in Palomino” set. Brian Littrell introduced Combs for the song’s first verse, and of course, the crowd immediately erupted.
Undeniably, “I Want It That Way” is one of the greatest karaoke anthems of all time. If you don’t love a good boy band classic, you simply don’t know how to have fun. Fortunately, Luke Combs does, and he’s no stranger to a genre-blending collaboration. Even after finishing his own full set, he delivered a powerful performance alongside all five members of the Backstreet Boys, clearly eating up every moment. Given the song’s original release in April 1999, it was likely a full-circle moment for Combs’ millennial heart.
And if that weren’t enough to make everyone jealous of those in attendance at Stage Coach, Combs also performed surprise duets with Garth Brooks on “Friends in Low Places” and with Good Charlotte for “The Anthem.” He also teased a new collaboration with Bailey Zimmerman titled “Backup Plan,” with promises of a music video on the way.
As for the Backstreet Boys, this won’t be their last country crossover of the year. Their upcoming collaboration with Rascal Flatts on a reimagined version of “What Hurts the Most” drops June 6 as part of their Rewind album.
Watch the full video here: