Steve Perry and Willie Nelson Release Surprise Rendition Of “Faithfully” By Journey

Steve Perry just dropped a surprise duet of Journey’s classic “Faithfully”—but this time, he’s singing it with country legend Willie Nelson. The unexpected collaboration was released with little warning, and fans of both artists are loving it. Nelson opens the track, while Perry joins in for the emotional chorus. Gone is the soaring guitar of Journey’s original; instead, a weeping steel guitar by Scott Sanders gives the song a whole new feel.

Perry expressed his excitement over the collaboration. He said:

“No one has a voice or vocal phrasing anything like Willie Nelson.
“Singing this duet with Willie has been something I’ve always wanted to do. After recording ‘Faithfully’ with Journey, I always felt it would be a great song for Willie, too. What a wonderful experience it was to finally sing with Willie. I’m so proud of what we have accomplished together.”

Faithfully Reimagined for a Good Cause

The reworked version includes a team of musicians: Mike Rojas on piano, Steve Mackey on bass, Kent Wells on acoustic guitar (and producer duties), and Scott Sanders on steel guitar. It’s a far cry from the arena-rock feel of the 1983 Journey hit, written by Jonathan Cain, but it captures the same emotional spirit in a stripped-down, country style.

It’s not yet clear whether this duet is a one-off single or part of a larger project, but all proceeds will go to Farm Aid, the non-profit co-founded by Willie Nelson to support family farmers.

Nelson Proud to Join Perry

Nelson echoed Perry’s sentiments about the collaboration. He said:

“Working with Steve Perry on ‘Faithfully’ was a meaningful experience.
“It was a pleasure to collaborate on this song. I’m proud that we could create something meaningful and use it to give back through Farm Aid.”

From Journey to Holiday Hits

“Faithfully” remains one of Journey’s most beloved songs and a staple of their live shows. Perry’s new version marks his latest release since the expanded edition of The Season in 2023. Before that, he released holiday songs like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and the Silver Bells EP. His last full-length album of original material, Traces, arrived in 2018 after nearly 25 years away from the spotlight.

You can watch the official video here: