It was announced just hours before the Outlaw Music Festival Tour kicked off that Willie Nelson would not be performing. The news disappointed fans who had purchased tickets for the initial shows in Alpharetta, Georgia on Friday, June 21. According to social media, Nelson, at 91 years old, was not feeling well and had been advised by his doctors to rest for the next four days. However, it was noted that he was expected to make a quick recovery and rejoin the tour the following week.
Despite Nelson’s absence, his son Lukas Nelson and the Family Band took the stage at the tour’s kickoff show. Bob Dylan, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, and Celisse performed their scheduled sets as well. Despite the statement that Nelson would return soon, the specific date of his comeback was not disclosed.
Nelson also missed Saturday’s tour stop in Charlotte, North Carolina and will not be present at Sunday’s show in Raleigh. There is uncertainty about whether he will return to the stage when the tour resumes on Wednesday in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Upcoming Outlaw Music Festival Tour stops include performances in Syracuse and Wantagh, New York as well as Holmdel, New Jersey.
Willie Nelson is a legendary figure in music who has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and has received multiple honors for his achievements. Despite his absence from the tour due to illness, Nelson remains a prolific songwriter and advocate for various causes.
