Flat River Band and Oak Ridge Boys Recreate Iconic “Dukes of Hazzard” Scene in New Music Video
The Flat River Band has teamed up with country music legends The Oak Ridge Boys and Dukes of Hazzard star John Schneider to recreate a memorable scene from the beloved American television show in their new music video for “Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight.” This collaboration, premiering exclusively at Taste of Country, offers a nostalgic and humorous tribute to the classic series.
A Blast from Hazzard County’s Past
The video fittingly features John Schneider, reprising his role as Bo Duke, helping the Flat River Band navigate Hazzard County. This connection is particularly apt because The Oak Ridge Boys themselves made an appearance on The Dukes of Hazzard approximately 46 years ago, performing the very same song. Their original TV performance was so well-received that it led Boss Hogg to make all their legal troubles disappear on the show.
The new music video opens with Schneider on the phone with his fictional brother, Luke Duke, discussing yet another speed trap in Hazzard County. Schneider then thoughtfully decides to call the Flat River Band, who, initially skeptical, only believe it’s truly him after he uses his iconic “Bo Duke voice.”
However, Schneider’s good deed hilariously backfires. Instead of heeding his advice to drive cautiously, the band decides that spending a day in jail and then performing all night with the Oak Ridge Boys at the legendary Boar’s Nest sounds like a perfect plan. They hit the gas, get arrested by two police officers who bear a striking resemblance to Daisy Duke, rather than Roscoe P. Coltrane, and are subsequently “sentenced” to an eternity of singing country music. The plot line cleverly mirrors the original Dukes of Hazzard clip, which famously showed the Oak Ridge Boys performing after their own run-in with Hazzard County law.
A Dream Collaboration and Enduring Legacy
Two original members of The Oak Ridge Boys, Duane Allen and William Lee Golden, join the Flat River Band for the performance in the new video. The entire experience serves as a delightful reminder of how good “Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight” — a song originally released in 1979 and which went No. 1 for the Oaks a year later — truly is.
This project carries a poignant note, as Joe Bonsall of The Oak Ridge Boys sadly passed away earlier this month. Additionally, two Dukes of Hazzard cast members crucial to that original scene, James Best (who played Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane) and Sorrell Booke (who played Boss Hogg), are also deceased.
The Flat River Band expressed their excitement about the collaboration, sharing their deep connection to the original episode. “We still vividly remember the episode where Roscoe set up a speed trap and JD Hogg had the Oak Ridge Boys perform ‘Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight,’” they told Taste of Country. “It was such a memorable moment for us. Now, being able to perform that song live and in studio with The Oak Ridge Boys feels like a childhood dream come true.”
The new music video is a testament to the enduring appeal of both classic country music and the timeless charm of Hazzard County.