Filmmaker Cameron Crowe to Induct My Morning Jacket Into ACL Hall of Fame

My Morning Jacket will take their rightful place among Austin City Limits (ACL) royalty this summer, as the celebrated Kentucky rock band is inducted into the ACL Hall of Fame during a full-set performance and taping Aug. 1 at ACL Live at The Moody Theater.

Oscar-winning filmmaker and music journalist Cameron Crowe, a longtime champion of the band, will deliver the official induction at the 11th annual ceremony, producers announced this week.

The event, which will air this fall as part of ACL’s 51st season on PBS, is also notable for a fan-friendly twist: attendance is free. ACL will open an online giveaway for passes from July 24 to July 29 at acltv.com, marking the first time the Hall of Fame event has been open to the public without a ticket purchase.

A history with ACL and Crowe

My Morning Jacket, whose sweeping, psychedelic-tinged sound and fiery live shows have earned them a devoted following over more than 25 years, are no strangers to ACL. The band made their debut on the series in 2006, with return appearances in 2008 and 2016, and frontman Jim James has graced the ACL stage with several other acts and as a solo artist.

The group also shares a unique connection with Crowe, portraying the fictional band Ruckus in his 2005 film “Elizabethtown” and contributing music to the film’s soundtrack.

“We are so beyond honored to be included alongside so many of our heroes and favorite legends in the ACL Hall of Fame,” James said in a statement. “We can’t wait to hit that sacred ACL stage again on Aug. 1 and celebrate this great honor with our beautiful fans.”

Crowe, whose career spans groundbreaking music writing for Rolling Stone and directing films like “Almost Famous” and “Jerry Maguire,” called the group “masters” of their craft. “Their songs explode with passion and feeling on stage and in the studio. They’ve long been one of my favorite bands,” he said.

ACL 11th annual Hall of Fame and live taping

ACL executive producer Terry Lickona recalled their 2006 debut taping as a standout moment for the show. “They shook the rafters in ole Studio 6A,” he said. “Few acts can compare to their ability to take command of the stage — so much so that they appeared three times in 10 years. Austin City Limits is proud to welcome them to our Hall of Fame, and I have a feeling the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is next.”

The Hall of Fame, launched in 2014, has honored more than two dozen influential artists who helped define ACL’s five-decade history. Past inductees include Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Ray Charles, B.B. King and Garth Brooks.

My Morning Jacket’s latest album, “is,” released earlier this year, finds the band expanding their sonic palette with help from Grammy-winning producer Brendan O’Brien. James called the project a reflection of music’s power to connect people to “something larger than us.”

Austin City Limits, produced by Austin PBS, is the longest-running music series in television history and remains the only TV program ever awarded the National Medal of Arts.

For more information and to enter the ticket giveaway, visit their website or follow @acltv on social media.

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