Lainey Wilson and John Mayer Perform 'Phone, Keys, Wallet' Live for First Time at Benefit
At the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's All For the Hall benefit in Los Angeles, Lainey Wilson surprised the audience by bringing John Mayer on stage to debut their collaboration 'Phone, Keys, Wallet.' The song currently sits at No. 15 on Billboard's Country Airplay chart. The event also featured performances by Jelly Roll, Lukas Nelson, and students from Manual Arts High School.
The All For the Hall benefit series, launched in New York in 2007, has long paired country veterans with rising talent to fund the museum's educational programming. Thursday's Los Angeles edition continued that tradition, with Jelly Roll and Lukas Nelson joining Wilson on the bill. Wilson also honored Dolly Parton with a cover of "You Can't Make Old Friends," her 2013 duet with Kenny Rogers.
A notable segment featured Manual Arts High School students performing "I'll Overcome," a song written through the museum's Words & Music program with guidance from songwriter Phil Barton and Liz Rose, a Songwriters Hall of Fame member. The evening underscored how the benefit's reach extends beyond star performances into classroom-based creative initiatives.
This cross-genre collaboration could broaden country music's audience by introducing Mayer's pop-rock fanbase to Wilson's catalog, potentially boosting the song's chart trajectory. The benefit's educational component may also inspire greater public interest in music literacy programs, particularly for under-resourced schools. Events like this could reinforce the cultural legitimacy of country music within mainstream entertainment circles, while the Dolly Parton tribute may resonate with older listeners who value tradition alongside innovation.