Vince Gill, Keith Urban + Brad Paisley Honor Glen Campbell at 2011 CMA Awards

Today’s country music wouldn’t be what it is without the iconic stars that led the way, like Glen Campbell, who changed the face of the industry with a string of Top 10 hits in the 1960s and ’70s. Realizing his greatness, Vince Gill, Keith Urban and Brad Paisley took the stage at the 2011 CMA Awards to honor the legend, who announced in June that he’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

The modern country stars stood in a row and each performed one of Campbell’s hit songs — Gill took ‘By the Time I Get to Phoenix,’ Urban tried his hand at ‘Wichita Lineman’ and Paisley did the honors on ‘Galveston,’ which was backed by a photo montage.

75-year-old Campbell mouthed along with each of his songs from the audience while the threesome performed the blend, each accompanying their peers on guitar as they sang their respective selection. At the end, a big group of folks welcomed Mr. Campbell to the stage to tip a collective hat to the legend and the path he paved for those that followed.

Despite his struggle with Alzheimer’s, Campbell recently stated a desire to do a farewell tour before he retires.