It is so beautiful. Especially when you can see Emmy is all teary-eyed, and you can tell Rodney understand how important that song is to her and to everyone listning. Its perfect.
Where's the autotune? Where's the pre-recorded backing tapes? Where are the lyrics about having some bikini blonde riding shotgun? Or being a bad-assed, country woman kicking the crap out of her boyfriend's pick-up truck?
I read that Emmylou sings the harmony part she sang with Gram, and Rodney sings the lead melody but as harmony. I don't have the best ear, but it seems reasonable. I'm sure the song is sacred to her. Jim Stafford said the Emmylou/Gram version contained all the pain of Gram's young life.
