Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) surprised passengers on Flight #1989 from Nashville to Miami with an unforgettable in-flight concert by GRAMMY Award-winning songwriter Liz Rose. Rose, known for co-writing hit songs with Taylor Swift, was en route to attend Swift’s Miami show. The special performance, which took place on October 17, marked the 100th concert of Southwest’s signature Live at 35® program, launched in 2011 to bring live music performances onboard at 35,000 feet.
“We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate 100 performances in the sky than with a plane full of music lovers singing along to the hit songs Liz helped create,” said Sarah Falvey, Vice President of Communications and Brand Reputation at Southwest Airlines. “We recently expanded service to support big events, and surprising Flight #1989 with a performance by such a talented songwriter added to the excitement.”
Liz Rose, thrilled by the unique opportunity, shared, “As a songwriter, I love connecting with people through music and words, and getting to sing along with Flight #1989 at 35,000 feet on my way to Miami was such a special experience. Southwest’s Live at 35 is a creative way to support musicians while surprising customers mid-flight.”
During the performance, passengers sang along and formed heart shapes with their hands as Rose performed hits like “All Too Well” and “You Belong with Me.” To commemorate the occasion, passengers received special inflight concert cards and custom friendship bracelets made by Southwest employees, bearing the phrases “Flight 1989” and “Spread LUV.”
Live at 35 has hosted a range of musicians, including up-and-coming artists from Southwest’s On The Rise program, which supports creative talent as they work toward achieving their career goals.
Liz Rose was accompanied by fellow hit songwriter Phil Barton on guitar, in collaboration with Nashville’s iconic Bluebird Cafe, a venue where rising stars like Rose have built their careers. The Bluebird Cafe and Southwest have been partners since 2015, working together to elevate the voices of emerging songwriters and performers.