The Man with the Big Hat

2026 · 85 min · Documentary, Music

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.

Director: Austin Lee Sayre
Writer: Austin Lee Sayre
Released: March 14, 2026
Language: English

Cast

Steven Fromholz
Self
Lyle Lovett
Self
Ray Benson
Self
Butch Hancock
Self
Terry Lickona
Self
Mike Williams
Self
Judie Gumm
Self
Dan McCrimmon
Self
Darcie Fromholz
Self
Janey Lake
Self
Larry Watkins
Self
Felicity Fromholz
Self

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