George Strait has cut 14 of Jim Lauderdale's songs throughout his career, but "The King of Broken Hearts" has a special place in Lauderdale's heart, as it's one of the first songs of his that Strait recorded. On Wednesday night (Sept. 21), the two shared the stage to perform the tune at the 2016 Americana Music Awards.

"The King of Broken Hearts" first appeared on Lauderdale's own solo debut album, Planet of Love, released in 1991. In 1992, Strait recorded the tune -- as well as "Where the Sidewalk Ends," also first on Planet of Love -- for the Pure Country soundtrack; Lee Ann Womack has also recorded it, for 2008's Call Me Crazy. Onstage on Wednesday night, Lauderdale explained that the track is "a tribute to George Jones and a guy I wish so bad I could have met, Gram Parsons."

Readers can press play above to watch Strait and Lauderdale perform "The King of Broken Hearts" together at the Ryman Auditorium. Prior to the performance, Strait helped award Lauderdale the WagonMaster Award, named after Porter Wagoner, which recognizes those who have made exceptionally valuable contributions to the Americana genre. Lauderdale is only the second person, after Wagoner, to receive the honor.

"Porter was many things, but mostly, he was a consummate entertainer, a very sharp-dressed man, a fine signer and a terrific songwriter and, for many years, the host of the Grand Ole Opry," Strait said from stage, drawing parallels between Wagoner and Lauderdale, the Americana Music Awards' host for 14 of its 15 years. "[Lauderdale has been] wearin' suits which Porter Wagoner would envy ... I know him mostly as a songwriter -- a really, really, really good hit songwriter."

On Friday (Sept. 30), Lauderdale will release a new studio album, This Changes Everything.

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