Original Heartbreakers Reunite with Chris Stapleton for Americana Awards; ’70s Rarities Box Set Due

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Sep 16, 2026 8:19am PT

Tom Petty’s Original Heartbreakers to Reunite for First Time in Decades for Americana Awards, Fronted by Chris Stapleton; Boxed Set of ’70s Rarities Coming

By Chris Willman

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Chris Willman

Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic

ChrisWillman

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It’s almost enough to un-break your heart, if you’re a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers fan. The four members of the original/classic lineup of Petty’s longtime band will reunite on stage for the first time in more than 20 years this week, fronted by Chris Stapleton for an opening performance at Wednesday night’s Americana Honors & Awards show in Nashville. That’s happening in conjunction with the announcement of a boxed set due in November that will delve into unreleased material from the group’s earliest days, “Origins 1971-1978.”

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_Originally reported by [Variety Music](https://variety.com/2026/music/news/tom-petty-original-heartbreakers-reunite-americana-boxed-set-1236864114/)._