“Magic All Over Again”: Mark Herndon Reunites with ALABAMA in Emotional Onstage Comeback

It was a night to remember at the Orion Amphitheater as the legendary country band ALABAMA delivered more than just their signature harmonies and high-energy performance. For the first time in over two decades, original drummer Mark Herndon rejoined the band onstage, sending shockwaves of nostalgia and emotion through the sold-out crowd.

As the band prepared to close out the show on Saturday night (August 23), lead singer Randy Owen surprised fans by inviting Herndon onstage for the finale. The audience erupted as the iconic drummer stepped into the spotlight, taking his place behind the kit to perform “Mountain Music” — complete with his famous drum solo — just like old times.

“It just fell together,” said founding member Teddy Gentry. “The good Lord blesses us sometimes to do things that we can’t do. All we can do is kind of be in the wings and kind of hope for things. Like I said, we make plans, and he laughs. But there’s nothing he can’t do.”

Herndon, who was visibly moved by the moment, shared, “I felt like a little kid all day. It was so cathartic for everybody. I think it was on God’s time, I really do. It was magic all over again.”

Herndon originally joined Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry, and the late Jeff Cook in the late 1970s as ALABAMA’s full-time drummer. His nearly three-decade tenure included countless chart-toppers and unforgettable live performances, before his departure following the band’s Farewell Tour in 2004.

Saturday night marked a full-circle moment — not just for the band, but for fans who have followed their journey from barrooms to arena stages. The surprise reunion was punctuated by Herndon’s signature post-show jump, a jubilant gesture that signaled a healing moment and a celebration of the legacy they built together.

ALABAMA, widely considered the most successful band in country music history, shows no signs of slowing down. Owen and Gentry are currently on the road for their Live In Concert 25 Tour, with 14 more dates scheduled across the country before the end of the year.