Little Big Town Takes the Stage at CMT Giants for Tribute Cover of Alabama’s Hit Song “The Closer You Get”

Back in the early 1980s, J.P. Pennington and Mark Gray joined forces to write a song that would become “The Closer You Get.” In 1981, the song was recorded by the band Exile. With the song gaining little attention, singer Don King picked it up and recorded his version. While recorded numerous times over the years, it eventually reached the No. 1 spot on the charts when Alabama decided to include it on the album of the same name. And with Alabama holding on to more than a few hit songs, CMT Giants decided to honor the group with special performances from groups like Little Big Town. 

Taking over Belmont’s Fisher Center in Nashville, CMT Giants welcomed top stars in country music to help celebrate Alabama. Helping capture the true spirit of country music, singers like Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, and Jason Aldean performed songs like “Old Alabama” and “Song of the South.” But when it came time for Little Big Town, the country group decided to cover the classic “The Closer You Get.” 

Consisting of Karen Fairchild, Phillip Sweet, Jimi Westbrook, and Kimberly Schlapman, Little Big Town is the perfect blend of harmonies. Already holding on to hit songs like “Pontoon”, the group celebrated Alabama with fashion and style.

[RELATED: Exclusive: Sugarland Shares Memories, Talks Future, Touring With Little Big Town]

The One Song Little Big Town Released Thanks To Blake Shelton

While spending decades together, Little Big Town grew a sizable fanbase that included singers like Miranda Lambert and even Blake Shelton. Back when Little Big Town worked on their hit song “Girl Crush”, they wondered if it had enough to make it on the airwaves. Thankfully, they turned to Shelton for advice. “We played it for Blake in the dressing room at The Voice, and he stood up and was like, ‘Touchdown!’ He was like, ‘I’ve never heard it said like that, ever. ‘That was really encouraging, obviously, because we were like, ‘OK, Blake knows what he’s doing.’ I mean, most of the time he does.”

Laughing at the joke, Fairchild insisted, “No, we love him. But that was so encouraging just to hear him say that. That’s the way a lot of our friends felt, like, ‘OK, the fans have to hear this.’”

(Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT)