Willie Nelson is 92 today. Depending on who you ask, he might have been 92 yesterday. If you ask Nelson, he claims both April 29 and April 30 as his birthday.
“I was born before midnight on the 29th, but it didn’t get registered in the county courthouse until the next day, the 30th,” he said. “So I just do both days.”
Country music’s most beloved living outlaw celebrated his 90th birthday in 2023 like the icon he is – with a two-night 50-artist concert at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl. Fans bought every ticket, and one ticket got them into both nights.
Nelson sang at his birthday party concert, which they called LONG STORY SHORT: WILLIE NELSON 90. The cross-genre lineup also included Allison Russell, Beck, Billy Strings, Bobby Weir, Booker T. Jones, Buddy Cannon, Charley Crockett, Charlie Sexton, Chris Stapleton, Daniel Lanois, Dave Matthews, Dwight Yoakam, Edie Brickell, Emmylou Harris, Gary Clark Jr., George Strait, Jack Johnson, Keith Richards, Kris Kristofferson, Leon Bridges, Lily Meola, Lukas Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Margo Price, Miranda Lambert, Nathaniel Rateliff, Neil Young, Norah Jones, Orville Peck, Particle Kid, Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Shooter Jennings, Snoop Dogg, Stephen Stills, Sturgill Simpson, The Avett Brothers, The Chicks, The Lumineers, Tom Jones, Tyler Childers, Warren Haynes, Waylon Payne, and Ziggy Marley.
The show aired on CBS a few months later and is available as a 2CD+Blu-Ray deluxe edition.
For those who missed the show – in honor of Nelson’s birthday – here are three highlights:
Videos by American Songwriter
Willie Nelson with George Strait:
George Strait doesn’t step into the spotlight very often these days, but he made the trip to Los Angeles to “Sing One with Willie” on his birthday. Nelson and Strait shared the stage, Strait serenading Nelson with his song about how he’s never been able to sing with him. Strait released “Sing One with Willie” in 2019, which is a collaboration with Nelson. The men sat on stools, strumming their acoustic guitars and singing about their adoration for each other.
Lyrics include: (Strait) Look at me now, I’m singing with Willie| Thank you, man, you just made my career| (Nelson) Well, you shoulda said somethin’, Strait| I always thought we’d sound great| And I finally got to sing one with ol’ George
The Texas royalty also dueted on Nelson’s Merle Haggard famed collaboration “Pancho and Lefty.”
Willie Nelson and Snoop Dog:
Snoop Dog swaggered on stage wearing Death Row track pants immediately following Strait. He asked Nelson if they could sing the next song, “In the key of smoke.”
Nelson kicked off his 2012 fan favorite “Roll Me Up.” The complete lyric is: Roll me up and smoke me when I die. Snoop Dog was smoking on stage and danced in his seat as Nelson covered the signature acoustic guitar licks.
“Anybody out there smoking tonight?” Snoop Dog asked. “Roll one for Mr. Nelson.”
The fact that the irreverent performance followed Strait served to highlight the diversity of Nelson’s music and friend group.
Kris Kristofferson and Rosanne Cash:
Kristofferson was 86 years old and had been in failing health for many years when Rosanne Cash helped him on stage at the Hollywood to honor his dear friend, Willie Nelson. Nelson and Kristofferson formed the super group The Highwaymen with Cash’s father Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings. Kristofferson had stopped performing long ago and was living in Hawaii, but made the journey to honor his old friend. The audience exploded when they saw him. He and Cash did a tender version of his song “Lovin’ Her Was Easier (than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again).” When Kristofferson gave Cash a huge hug at the end, it was impossible not to feel the love and respect shared by the group.
Kristofferson passed away the following year.
(Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for A+E Networks)
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.