Willie Nelson had to back out of performing at a concert for the "Outlaw Music Festival Tour" in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on June 26, according to a statement posted on his Instagram page.
"Willie Nelson will not be performing at tonight's show in Virginia Beach. We expect Willie to return to the tour shortly," the statement began.
The post also said other acts would go on, while Nelson's son Lukas Nelson would also pay homage to his father.
"Bob Dylan, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Celisse will perform as scheduled," the statement said. "In addition, Lukas Nelson and Family along with some special guests will play his own set which will include Willie's classics and other songs."
No reason was given for Nelson's absence, but he did miss the start of the “Outlaw Music Festival Tour” due to an illness.
The tour kicked off at the Ameris Bank Amphitheatre in Alpharetta, Georgia, on June 21. Hours before showtime, the 91-year-old announced that he was unable to perform via a statement on social media.
“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 statement read. “He is expected to make a quick recovery and join the Outlaw Music Festival tour next week.”
In an email statement to TODAY.com at the time, a representative for Nelson shared an update on the singer's health.
"Willie will be fine. I live in Los Angeles and will fly next week to see the performances on the east coast. I can’t wait," the statement read.
— Willie Nelson (@WillieNelson) June 21, 2024
While Nelson was ordered to rest for four days after announcing he would not participate in the tour's opening night, he did not announce the specific date he would return to the stage.
The tour continues June 28 at the Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview, Syracuse, New York.
The 2024 “Outlaw Music Festival Tour” was announced on social media back in February, with Nelson sharing a post on Instagram at the time celebrating “an incredible lineup of legendary artists.”
“This year’s Outlaw Music Festival Tour promises to be the biggest and best yet with this lineup of legendary artists,” Nelson shared in a statement on the tour’s website. “I am thrilled to get back on the road again with my family and friends playing the music we love for the fans we love.”
The "Outlaw Music Festival" initially debuted in 2016 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and included acts such as Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, Eric Church, Sheryl Crow and more.
Nelson isn't the only legendary artist to miss out on performances due to health issues.
At the end of May, Bruce Springsteen postponed several concerts in Europe after he was ordered by doctors to “not perform for the next ten days.” In September 2023, the “Born to Run” singer also postponed his remaining 2023 concert dates as he recovered from peptic ulcer disease.
In August 2019, Nelson nearly canceled his “On the Road Again” tour due to illness. After announcing on Aug. 7, 2019, that he had to cancel his tour due to a “breathing problem” he needed to get addressed by doctors, an update was shared the following day that he was “resting and getting better” and the tour would resume on Sept. 6.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
