As Willie Nelson celebrates his birthday, here’s a recap of his 89th year
April 30—Country music legend Willie Nelson turns 89 on Friday and he continues to perform as a performer.
To coincide with his birthday, the 10-time Grammy winner is set to release his next album, “A Beautiful Time.” Then on Saturday, Nelson will perform at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, with George Strait and the Randy Rogers Band. On Sunday, Nelson will host his own party, “To Willie: A Birthday Celebration,” at Luck Ranch outside Austin. It’s a tribute concert that includes Ray Wylie Hubbard, Robert Earl Keen and others.
In his 89th year, here’s how the iconic Nelson has remained relevant to his adoring fans.
Take COVID precautions
Nelson was at that vulnerable age for COVID-19 to be problematic. Nelson suffers from emphysema, which is caused by long-term exposure to airborne irritants including marijuana smoke, tobacco, dust and chemical fumes.
He has been a supporter of COVID-19 vaccinations and in 2021 received his first dose of the Moderna vaccine. At some of his shows last summer, Nelson required concert goers to wear protective face coverings, a negative test result or proof of vaccination.
In February, he canceled several of his upcoming indoor concerts, including a March appearance at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth, “until the COVID situation improves,” according to his publicist.
“I don’t want to do a show anywhere and anytime where there’s a danger of someone getting sick,” Nelson said in a pre-recorded Q-and-A with SXSW’s Andy Langer.
Death in the family
In March, Nelson mourned the death of his older sister, Bobbie, whose prowess as a pianist propelled his band. She was 91 years old.
In an interview with Austin music writer Michael Corcoran, Nelson praised his older sister – whom he always referred to as “little sister” – and what she had meant to his unique sound. :
“There is no way to explain how lucky I am to have a good musician in the family. Whenever I needed a pianist, she was there. Every time our band plays, Sister Bobbie is the best musician on stage.”
On his 88th birthday, Bobbie shared childhood memories of his brother on SiriusXM Willie’s Roadhouse.
Last month, Nelson paid tribute to his sister at a concert at Luck Ranch, performing in his Family Band flanked by his sons Lukas Nelson and Micah Nelson.
Are your shoes legal?
Nelson’s lighter side as a pitcher and former smoker came out with his Super Bowl commercials for Skechers shoes.
In a 30-second ad, Nelson decked out in a “Legalize” t-shirt and called for the decriminalization of Skechers shoes. When told by the commercial’s director that the shoes were already legal, Nelson feigned confusion, replying, “They feel so good I just assumed The Man made them illegal.”
On the road once more
After canceling those local shows due to COVID-19, Nelson is catching up with his North Texas fans in July. That’s when Willie Nelson and his family will headline the 2022 Outlaw Music Festival Tour.
It will stop July 2 at the Dos Equis pavilion at Fair Park in Dallas. The 19-show tour kicks off June 24 in St. Louis.
Nelson’s Dallas appearance, the fifth on the Outlaw Music Festival tour, will also include Jason Isbell and Unit 400, the Osborne Brothers, Charley Crockett, Steve Earle and the Dukes and Allison Russell.
“I’m happy to be out,” he told Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show” in June. “It’s been over a year now, and I’m not sure I remember ‘Whiskey River.'”
Fallon wished him a happy belated 88th birthday and asked Nelson what kept him strong.
“I wrote a new song the other day – ‘Imagine what you want, then walk away,'” he told Fallon.
“And I think the most important line is ‘step aside.'”
Will Carpenter is an arts and entertainment reporter for the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at 307-633-3135. Follow him on Twitter @will_carp_.