Country music fans in Birmingham got an unexpected treat when Jamey Johnson made a surprise appearance at Saw’s Juke Joint.

Johnson, an Alabama native, popped up Tuesday night for an impromptu performance at the barbecue restaurant on Dunston Avenue, singing his biggest hit, “In Color.” Johnson also joined Taylor Hicks and John Daly for a few other tunes.

Hicks, a singer-songwriter and former “American Idol” winner, is one of the owners of Saw’s Juke Joint, and it’s not unusual for the Nashville resident to stop by the restaurant when he’s in town.

May 13, however, was a special occasion, as Johnson became to the latest star to play at an event known as Saw’s Juke Joint Jamboree. It’s become a tradition over the past several years, held on the night before the Regions Tradition Celebrity Pro-Am.

Famous amateur golfers are paired with professional golfers at the annual Pro-Am, which takes place at Greystone Golf & Country Club in Birmingham. The Pro-Am is popular with star-gazers — veterans include Hicks, Daly, Nick Saban, Charles Barkley and Bo Jackson — and many of the celebrities have found their way to Saw’s over the years.

Although certain aspects of the jam session are confirmed in advance — Hicks and Daly were definitely on board to perform this year, along with the Anderson Gore Band — the number of special guests varies, along with their level of participation in the music.

Some grab the microphone or play an instrument, while others are simply content to lift a beer and sing along with the crowd.

“It happens organically that night,” Hicks said in an interview with AL.com. “Everybody has their adult beverages and gets full of barbecue. When the mood gets right and everything’s grooving, artists will pop up. The band’s already in place, and it’s just an easy thing to pop up there and entertain folks. People love it. The band starts at 6 and goes until the last beer. It can go pretty late. Everybody’s in a good mood and everybody’s happy.”

As a result, some compelling and unusual performances have ensued.

“You never know what you’re gonna get the Tuesday night before the Regions Tradition at the Juke Joint,” Hicks said. “There was one night where Charles Barkley sang ‘Can’t You See’ by the Marshall Tucker Band. Nobody would have ever thought that Charles would sing ‘Can’t You See.’ It all depends on who’s thirsty and who’s hungry. And I would lean toward more of the thirsty part than the hungry part.”

“In Color” was a highlight of this year’s setlist, but the audience at Saw’s also heard “Call Me the Breeze” (Hicks), “Hit It Hard” and “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” (Daly), “Lead Me Home” (Johnson) and an excerpt from “Can’t You See” (Johnson, Hicks and Daly).

Country star Riley Green, who played at the 2025 Pro-Am, didn’t show up at Saw’s this year, but he’s been there for the Jamboree in the past, Hicks said.

“It’s just one of those things where, a lot of the celebrities in town before the Pro-Am, that’s where they can go and let it all hang out,” Hicks said. “We’ve had everybody from Hugh Freeze to Riley Green to Tommy Tuberville to Charles Barkley and John Daly. Those patio parties at the Juke Joint can go pretty late and get pretty rowdy, which I love.”

Music fans and sports aficionados have learned about the jam sessions over the years, packing Saw’s Juke Joint in anticipation of some major celebrity-spotting. Two tour buses were parked behind the restaurant this year, Hicks said, and the crowd’s energy ran high.

“The clouds broke after about two weeks of rain, and I think people were itching to get out,” Hicks said. “It was a hell of a time.”

Hicks and Johnson have performed together in the past, including a date nearly 20 years ago at House of Blues in New Orleans.

“I was performing the House of Blues on my first solo tour after ‘Idol,’” Hicks recalled. “I walk into a little restaurant and bar area to get something to eat. And lo and behold, there’s Jamey sitting there having dinner at the bar by himself. I walked up to him and said, ‘Hey, do you wanna sit in (at my show)?’ So he went from having his dinner to walking into a full house at the House of Blues. That’s how we first met. I’ve really enjoyed watching his career take off because I think he’s one of the most unique and honest country singers.”

There’s no cover charge for Saw’s Juke Joint Jamboree, but Hicks said he might turn the event into charity fund-raiser in the future. He’s also thinking about moving the event outside, using the restaurant’s parking lot as the audience continues to grow.

“I love being back home. I love seeing family and friends, and I love supporting the Regions Tradition,” Hicks said. “I love the atmosphere. And obviously I’m fond of Saw’s Juke Joint. It’s just a neat little place in that side of the world. It’s just me, wanting to give back through the golf — but also just wanting to play music in the Juke Joint and have a good time.”

And just in case you’re wondering, Nick Saban has yet to show up at the Jamboree, although he’s been a regular at the Pro-Am. Still, hope springs eternal.

“That has been kind of a goal of mine,” Hicks said. “We don’t really play music that he can do the Electric Slide to. But I got the Auburn coach over there shaking it up in the Juke Joint, so why not the Alabama coach?”