“Per doctor’s orders,” country legend will miss first three gigs on his co-headlining traveling fest with Bob Dylan
The Outlaw Music Festival kicked off Friday without one of its co-headliners as, hours before the tour launched, Willie Nelson revealed he would miss at least three shows with an unspecified illness.
“We regret to inform you that Willie Nelson is not feeling well and, per doctor’s orders, has been advised to rest for the next four days,” the country legend’s social media announced hours before the Alpharetta, Georgia kick-off. “He is expected to make a quick recovery and join the Outlaw Music Festival next week.”
In the 91-year-old Willie’s place, his son Lukas Nelson and the Family Band plus special guests will perform “a special set to include Willie’s classics and other songs.”
In addition to the Georgia gig, Nelson will also miss Saturday’s show in Charlotte, North Carolina and Sunday’s stop in Raleigh. The Outlaw Music Festival — which is co-headlined by Bob Dylan, who delivered his own surprising set Friday night — will then continue, hopefully with Willie back in tow, on June 26 in Virginia Beach. The tour will also coincide with Nelson’s annual 4th of July picnic, this year taking place in Philadelphia with Dylan and Maren Morris in tow.
The Outlaw Music Festival features both Willie Nelson and Dylan for the entirety of the trek, which concludes September 20. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss and Celisse are also on the lineup for the first half of the tour, with John Mellencamp joining for the second half; Brittney Spencer and Southern Avenue will also switch off on the latter half. Additionally, Billy Strings has signed on the Outlaw Music Festival’s August 10 stop at the Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington.