Willie Nelson, the 91-year-old country music icon, was forced to cancel his performance at the opening night of the 2024 Outlaw Music Festival in Alpharetta, Georgia on June 21 due to illness.
He was scheduled to headline the event alongside Bob Dylan, Robert Plant, Alison Krauss, and Celisse.
Nelson’s son, Lukas Nelson, and the Family Band filled in for the country legend, performing covers of his classic songs and other hits.
A statement on Nelson’s X (formerly Twitter) page assured fans that he is expected to make a full recovery and rejoin the tour next week. The statement did not disclose the nature of Nelson’s illness.
The Outlaw Music Festival tour continues with upcoming shows in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Raleigh, North Carolina. It’s uncertain whether Nelson will be able to perform at these shows, but he could potentially return for the June 26 show in Virginia Beach.
The tour, which was announced in February and is scheduled to run through September, also features John Mellencamp as a replacement for Plant and Krauss in late July.
Despite the setback, Nelson’s spirit remains strong. Around his 90th birthday in April 2023, he expressed his passion for performing and his determination to continue making music. He even released his 75th studio album, The Border, in May.
Fans are sending their well wishes for Nelson’s speedy recovery, hoping to see him back on stage soon, doing what he loves most.
