A Surprise Performance at the Kitchen Table

Rock fans are used to hearing others cover songs by The Who, but the band itself has rarely returned the favor. That is why a recent video featuring Roger Daltrey has caught so much attention. Instead of a loud stage or packed venue, the 81-year-old singer appeared seated at a kitchen table, holding an acoustic guitar and performing a country song few expected to hear from him.

The short clip, shared on TikTok, shows Daltrey singing “I Got Stripes,” a Johnny Cash song released in 1968. He was dressed simply in a long-sleeved gray shirt, jeans, and tinted glasses. The relaxed setting made the moment feel personal, as if viewers were watching a private jam rather than a planned performance.

Fans React to an Unexpected Cover

The comments quickly filled with praise for both the song choice and Daltrey’s voice. “A legend sings the legend,” one viewer wrote, while another added, “Legend and so often forgotten in the power frontman discussion. Roger defined it.” Many fans were struck by how natural he sounded, even decades after his peak years.

Others focused on the warmth of the moment itself. “Admiration overload for this man,” one person commented. Another joked, “How do I get him to come to my kitchen table???” The reactions showed how strongly fans still connect with Daltrey, even in such a casual setting.

A Longtime Love for Johnny Cash

This was not the first time Daltrey has shown love for Johnny Cash’s music. He has spoken openly about his respect for the country icon and has turned to Cash’s songs many times over the years. During a 2009 solo tour stop in Boston, Daltrey performed a short set of Cash favorites for the crowd.

That night, he sang parts of “Folsom Prison Blues” and “Ring of Fire.” He then praised Cash from the stage, telling the audience to “find some Johnny Cash songs, sing whatever you like, and your life will be all the better.” His words made it clear that Cash’s music held personal meaning for him.

Watch the performance below:

Using Country Songs as Vocal Warmups

Daltrey has also used Cash’s songs in a practical way. Before concerts, he has often turned to them as warmups to prepare his voice. In footage from The Who’s 2006 concert film Fragments, he can be seen taking a guitar into a bathroom before a show.

There, he sang Cash’s “There You Go” to get ready. At the time, Daltrey explained the reason, saying, “this gets the voice nice and low, and used to singing.” The recent kitchen-table cover fits right into that long habit, showing how deeply those songs remain part of his routine.