Country Stars Team Up for Special 2014 Grammy Performance

Country stars Blake Shelton, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson are teaming up for a special performance at the 2014 Grammy Awards on Jan. 26.

It's no accident that the four icons have come together for the show. Grammy producer Ken Ehrlich became interested in relief efforts after the tornadoes in Oklahoma and Texas in May, and this group of country stars have major roots in those states.

“I started to think about what we could do to honor them as the artists that they are and what they’ve accomplished over their lives," Ehrlich tells CMT. "And at the same time, not necessarily forget about this Oklahoma/Texas idea.”

Kristofferson is being honored the day before the awards show with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, following the induction of his 1970 release 'Kristofferson' into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Among the four artists, Shelton is the only one who has not yet received a Grammy, though he is nominated for two this year (Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Album). Haggard has earned two awards, Kristofferson has awards for 1971's 'Help Me Make It Through the Night' and for duets with Rita Coolidge, and Nelson has a total of seven Grammys under his belt.

“Musically, this will honor Willie and Kris’ music, it will honor probably Merle’s most famous song and then it’s going to end with the four of them together," Ehrlich says. "I won’t say it’s not predictable, but it will be classic."

The 2014 Grammy Awards air live on CBS at 8PM ET on Jan. 26.