Austin City Limits season is officially here, which means dozens of tourists, celebrities and musicians will be traveling to Texas’ city over the next two weekends. While some may be in town solely for the festival, others may want to get the most out of their trip to Austin with a stop at one of the city’s most historic honky-tonks.
George Strait, Dwight Yoakam, Willie Nelson and more have all performed the Broken Spoke in Austin. However, it’s not just country music stars that have made appearances at the iconic dance hall and bar over the past 60 years.
From Dua Lipa to Glen Powell, here are some of the celebs who have visited the Broken Spoke:
Paris Jackson
Michael Jackson’s daughter, Paris, made it a point to learn two-stepping at the Broken Spoke earlier this year. She visited the honky-tonk in mid-February, where she proved that dancing really does run in the family.
Glen Powell
On a trip back to his hometown last year, Glen Powell was spotted at the Broken Spoke in October 2025. The Twisters and more recently Chad Powers star showed off his Texas roots two-stepping on the dance floor.
Dua Lipa
London-born pop star Dua Lipa stopped by the Broken Spoke after headlining Austin City Limits music festival in October 2024. The “New Rules” singer even posted a TikTok dancing the night away at the honky-tonk.
Clint Eastwood
Academy Award-winning actor Clint Eastwood visited the Broken Spoke in 1993, while while he was filming A Perfect World in the Austin area. According to the Broken Spoke website, Eastwood danced with a lot of girls and drank Lone Star beer.
Garth Brooks
Country music star Garth Brooks surprised fans with a concert at the Broken Spoke in March 2017. He played all of his biggest hits like “The Dance,” “Rodeo,” “Friends in Low Places” and classics from George Jones, Merle Haggard and George Strait, per the bar’s website.
Dolly Parton
Late country legend Dolly Parton filmed a TV movie called Wild Texas Nights at the Broken Spoke in 1987, according to the bar’s website. Broken Spoke owner and founder James White even had a speaking role in the film.
Brooks & Dunn
In 2004, country music duo Brooks & Dunn played at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, but they wanted to play “in a real honky-tonk” so afterward they headed over to the Broken Spoke, the bar said in a photo caption of the pair on its website.
Robert Duvall
Actor Robert Duvall picked the Broken Spoke as a backdrop to his photo shoot with Cowboys & Indians Magazine in 2014. He also had movie wrap parties for his movies Wild Horses and Secondhand Lies at the “last true Texas honky-tonk.”
William Dafoe
Spiderman star Willem Dafoe went to the Broken Spoke to enjoy some good country music in 2007.
Fergie
Popstar and former Black Eyed Peas member, Fergie, came out to the Broken Spoke with her then-husband Josh Duhamel during SXSW 2014.
Quentin Tarantino
Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino held a wrap party for his movie, Death Proof, in 2007 at the Broken Spoke. Actress Rosario Dawson and Austin-based director Robert Rodriguez were also in attendance, according to the bar’s website.
President George W. Bush
Former President George W. Bush held a celebration party at the Broken Spoke after winning his election for Texas Governor in 1994. He played shuffleboard in the restaurant with musician TJ McFarland and posed for photos with fans.
John C. Reilley
Actor John C. Reilly stopped by the Broken Spoke in 2022. The Stepbrothers star met and took a photo with the bar’s owner James White…