Doobie Brothers to collaborate with Jennifer Nettles, Hillary Scott and Hunter Hayes at CMAs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Several country musicians jumped at the chance to record with The Doobie Brothers on their new album, “Southbound,” but the classic rock band found even more country singers who wanted to collaborate live.

The band, which includes members Michael McDonald, John McFee, Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons, are performing with Jennifer Nettles, Hunter Hayes and Hillary Scott from Lady Antebellum during Wednesday’s Country Music Association Awards, live on ABC at 8 p.m. EST.

McFee said that he was blown away by the vocal collaboration while they were rehearsing for the show on Monday.

“We were backstage in our dressing room doing a vocal run-through with everybody and I was like, ‘These people sound great!’” McFee said, during an interview Tuesday at the Bridgestone Arena, where the awards show is held.

Zac Brown Band, Sara Evans, Toby Keith and Blake Shelton all recorded new versions of Doobie Brothers songs for the album that was released Tuesday. But the band said they weren’t quite sure what to expect from country music’s young fans that are tuning into the show.

“After doing the rehearsal yesterday, we got an idea of what it’s like to be up there with the other folks and get a feel for it, but I think that’s really going to change when you’ve got a whole bunch of people in front of you,” said Johnston.

“We just told them to lock the exits when we get on stage,” Simmons joked.

The awards show caps several days of events in Nashville honouring its songwriters and performers, including the BMI country awards on Tuesday night, which will honour Vince Gill as an icon in country music.