How Travis Tritt Accidentally Reunited the Eagles—And Made Rock History
In the early 1990s, country star Travis Tritt unknowingly became the catalyst for one of the most unexpected reunions in rock music history: the legendary Eagles. While Tritt humbly insists he doesn’t deserve credit, the story behind how it all unfolded is as legendary as the band itself.
It all started with the making of Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles, a 1993 tribute album featuring top country artists covering the Eagles’ greatest hits. Tritt was one of the last artists invited to participate. When asked which song he wanted to record, he quickly rattled off a list—“Desperado,” “Tequila Sunrise,” “Lyin’ Eyes”—but all the tracks he loved were already spoken for.
Frustrated, he finally asked, “Well, what’s left?”
The answer: Take It Easy—the band’s first No. 1 hit.
Without hesitation, Tritt recorded the track, and weeks later received an early copy of the album. Impressed by all the performances, he didn’t think much more of it—until he got a surprising call from legendary manager Irving Azoff’s office: Take It Easy would be the album’s lead single, and they wanted to shoot a music video to promote it.
On the spot, Tritt blurted out an idea: “Why don’t we get the Eagles back together for the video?” Silence followed on the other end of the line.
Unaware of the deep tensions between Eagles members—particularly Don Henley and Glenn Frey—Tritt had just suggested something fans had long believed impossible. After all, Henley had once famously quipped the Eagles would reunite “when hell freezes over.”
But that suggestion set off a remarkable chain of events. With Azoff’s blessing, Tritt personally called both Frey and Henley. To his amazement, they agreed—on one condition: if the other did it too.
The video for Take It Easy was filmed in December at a cantina in Los Angeles. At the end of the shoot, a stage was set up, and the members of the Eagles—including Joe Walsh—plugged in and jammed together for the first time in 14 years. As Tritt stood beside them, strumming and singing, he realized he had been—if only for a moment—an Eagle himself.
That video shoot led directly to the band’s Hell Freezes Over tour the following year, marking their official reunion and one of the most successful comebacks in rock history.
Travis Tritt may not claim the credit, but fans know the truth: sometimes, one phone call—and one bold idea—can change music history.