NASHVILLE – Taylor Swift’s surprise video tribute to country music legend Alan Jackson during his final concert in Nashville on Saturday sparked a passionate and polarized reaction from the crowd at Nissan Stadium.

The pop superstar appeared on screen in a pre-recorded message honoring the 67-year-old Jackson just before he took the stage for his final performance. While her heartfelt words praised Jackson’s songwriting and encouragement of fellow artists, portions of the audience responded with audible boos that mingled with cheers, making her message nearly inaudible at times .

“Hey Alan, it’s Taylor. I just wanted to say thank you for your decades of unbelievable songwriting and your performances,” Swift began. She singled out Jackson’s 2002 hit “Drive” as her favorite, praising how “you paint such a picture” and “let us into details of your life” .

Swift, 36, who began her career in country music, expressed gratitude for Jackson’s support over the years. “I appreciate you so much for the ways that you have just treated me and other artists and writers with such support and encouragement,” she said in the video .

The farewell concert, titled “Last Call: One More for the Road — The Finale,” brought together an extraordinary lineup of country music’s biggest names. Live performances came from George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Eric Church, and Luke Bryan, among many others .

Jackson announced his diagnosis of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a degenerative nerve condition affecting balance, in 2021. One dollar from every ticket sold for Saturday’s concert benefited the CMT Research Foundation .

Other artists who could not attend in person, including Keith Urban, Zac Brown, and Kenny Chesney, also sent video messages that were shown throughout the evening . A recorded version of the concert is scheduled to air on NBC and Peacock later this year .

The mixed reception for Swift comes just days after she attended events in Nashville supporting her fiancé, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. During that visit, she surprised attendees with an impromptu duet of “Love Story” alongside Lainey Wilson at the Tight Ends & Friends concert .