A Heartfelt Homecoming: Joe Walsh’s Touching Tribute in Wichita
What happened in Wichita recently felt less like a concert moment and more like a deeply personal homecoming story unfolding onstage. Joe Walsh, the legendary Eagles guitarist and founder of the VetsAid charity concerts, returned to his birthplace for the 2025 edition of the event — and what happened there became one of the weekend’s most talked-about musical surprises.
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At this show, which was held on November 14, the audience was treated to an unexpected and beautifully intimate performance. Jimmy Webb, the acclaimed songwriter behind classics like “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” and “Wichita Lineman,” made a surprise appearance. Together, Walsh and Webb performed “Wichita Lineman,” a song steeped in emotion and musical history. As the two stood onstage, the entire arena seemed to quiet itself, almost as if people instinctively knew they were witnessing something rare. Webb later posted the clip online, saying it had been an honor to join Walsh for the night, and fans have been praising the moment ever since.
What makes the performance even more meaningful is Joe Walsh’s deep personal connection to Wichita. He was born there, his parents were born and buried there, and he has always spoken about the strong sense of heritage the city holds for him. Bringing VetsAid — his annual benefit concert supporting veterans’ organizations — to Wichita had been a longtime goal. After nearly a decade of holding the event in other cities, he finally brought it home, and he arrived surrounded by close friends and musical companions such as Vince Gill, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks and Nathaniel Rateliff.
This year’s concert also took place at a time when Walsh has been auctioning off parts of his vast collection of guitars, amps and other gear. The gesture has been framed as part of a broader effort to give back, an extension of the mission behind VetsAid itself. As a Gold Star son, Walsh created VetsAid in 2017 with the goal of supporting veterans’ services across the U.S., and more than $4 million has already been distributed through grants. The proceeds from this year’s benefit are set to stay in Kansas, strengthening his hometown connection even further.
The choice to perform “Wichita Lineman” added another layer of storytelling to the night. Webb originally wrote the song in 1968 after seeing a lone lineman working atop a telephone pole in the Oklahoma panhandle — a quiet figure set against the vastness of the landscape. Glen Campbell, who first brought the song to life, was so moved by its message of longing and solitude that he reportedly cried when he heard it. All these decades later, hearing the song sung in Wichita by its creator and one of the city’s most famous musical sons made the moment feel almost poetic.
In the end, what the audience witnessed wasn’t just a tribute performance. It was a merging of roots, memories, music and gratitude — a reminder of how songs travel through time, and how coming home can make them resonate in entirely new ways.
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