AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City Limits has established itself as the longest-running music program in television history, and it's celebrating its 50th birthday this year. The show is holding a birthday bash concert next week, and fans can watch it from the comfort of their homes.
Willie Nelson was the first person to ever perform on Austin City Limits, and the inaugural taping of the show is coming up on its golden anniversary.
That inaugural performance was taped on Oct. 17, 1974.
Willie Nelson & Family, along with Austin’s own Asleep at the Wheel, will perform at the Austin City Limits 50th Birthday Bash at the Long Center on Oct. 17 to commemorate the anniversary of the taping of the show’s pilot episode.
The concert is free, but those interested in going needed to register for a chance to win tickets and should have been notified already if they were selected to attend.
Those who weren't selected to get tickets but still want to watch the concert can livestream the event, ACL TV said in a post on X Tuesday.
The worldwide stream will be available on aclturns50.com and Austin City Limits TV’s YouTube channel beginning at 7 p.m., according to ACL's website.
The performance will be taped, and musical highlights will air as a special hour-long broadcast of Austin City Limits, which will air on PBS early next year as a season highlight of the program’s anniversary Season 50, according to a release from the TV show.
The stream will only be available live, and performance highlights will air on PBS and stream on the PBS App in 2025.
