The Man with the Big Hat

The Man with the Big Hat

85 mins | Documentary | March 14, 2026

An unsung pioneer of 1970s Texas Progressive Country, Steven Fromholz had a knack for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Revered by legends like Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett & John Denver, he remained commercially unknown. He sought redemption on the Rio Grande as a river guide until a debilitating stroke erased his musical memory, stripping Fromholz of his artistic identity. With an almost obsessive persistence bolstered by newly discovered archives as well as never-before-heard recordings, this intimate and impressionistic portrayal unveils the evolution of Fromholz, and reshapes the notion of success and artistic fortitude.

The Man with the Big Hat

85 mins | Documentary | March 14, 2026

The Man with the Big Hat
An unsung pioneer of 1970s Texas Progressive Country, Steven Fromholz had a knack for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Revered by legends like Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett & John Denver, he remained commercially unknown. He sought redemption on the Rio Grande as a river guide until a debilitating stroke erased his musical memory, stripping Fromholz of his artistic identity. With an almost obsessive persistence bolstered by newly discovered archives as well as never-before-heard recordings, this intimate and impressionistic portrayal unveils the evolution of Fromholz, and reshapes the notion of success and artistic fortitude.
Producers Three Chords And The Truth, Bracken Films, Flintlock Pictures
Original title The Man with the Big Hat
Directors Austin Lee Sayre
Writers Austin Lee Sayre

Cast

Lyle Lovett

as Himself

Ray Benson

as Himself

Butch Hancock

as Himself

Terry Lickona

as Himself

Bobby Bridger

as Himself