Dolly, Merle, Luke Combs and more get the Columbia treatment at Country Royale

The Blue Note continues its Royale series, turning to the kings and queens of country.

Previous shows paid homage to the great acts of emo and iconic Southern California bands. This time out, mid-Missouri artists will dive deep, resurfacing with a whole set of material from a formative artist. Here's a preview of next weekend's show.

Travis Feutz and The Stardust Cowboys performing Merle Haggard and the Strangers

The artist being honored: One of the architects of the Bakersfield Sound, Haggard guided his tight-knit band, The Strangers, through some of the most iconic country records of the 1970s and '80s. Haggard lives on in many halls of fame, including the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Kennedy Center Honors and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The artist paying tribute: As their name implies, Feutz and Co. sing with an eye toward the heavens, but feet scuffing the earth. Their sound owes a debt to jukebox icons, turning the music over with little revolutions per minute.

Enduring songs: Legendary tracks cut with The Strangers in particular include "Mama Tried," "Workin' Man Blues," "Okie from Muskogee" and "Fightin' Side of Me."

Meredith Shaw performs Dolly Parton

The artist being honored: Only two words properly describe Dolly Parton, and even then they practically falter: American treasure.

The artist paying tribute: The resurgent Shaw is making the most of her second chance at country music, delivering a growing stable of songs marked by their peerless blend of humor and hard-earned wisdom.

Enduring songs: "I Will Always Love You," "Jolene," "9 to 5" and "Here You Come Again" are but a few of the Parton recordings that seem as though they've always existed.

Preston Ary Band performs Chris Stapleton

The artist being honored: This Kentucky gentleman is often spoken of in reverential tones, a sort of saving grace for modern country in that he appeals to country diehards and those who don't consider themselves fans of the genre. Stapleton is a well-decorated artist, with 10 Grammys among his many awards.

The artist paying tribute: Preston Ary Band promises listeners a braiding of country, grunge and "2000s rock" on its website; the band has logged dates with the likes of Granger Smith and Lauren Alaina.

Enduring songs: Signature songs so far include "Traveller," "Tennessee Whiskey," "Broken Halos" and "You Should Probably Leave."

Murphy's Ford performs Luke Combs

The artist being honored: Combs has been in the spotlight's center lately with his hit cover of Tracy Chapman's iconic "Fast Car" and their subsequent Grammy duet. But the North Carolina native has been wooing and wowing audiences since his 2017 debut "This One's For You."

The artist offering tribute: The mid-Missouri band has shared stages with the likes of Tracy Lawrence and Eli Young Band, making their own way with songs that abide rippling banjo, rock-laced guitars and relatable hooks.

Enduring songs: Combs' true triumphs (so far) include "Hurricane," "She's Got the Best of Me" and "Beautiful Crazy."

Country Royale takes place at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 9. Tickets are $8-$15. Visit https://thebluenote.com/ for more details.

Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. He's on Twitter/X @aarikdanielsen.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Hear Columbia artists pay tribute to Dolly Parton, Luke Combs and more