Willie Nelson Returns To Stage After Mystery Illness Forces Him To Miss 8 Shows

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On July 4, 2024, Willie Nelson returned to performing after missing eight shows in the last few weeks due to a mysterious illness.

The shows he missed were part of his Outlaw Music Festival Tour, which he announced in February. The festival used to be a one- or two-day event, but a couple of years ago, it was taken on tour so more people could attend!

This year, the Outlaw Music Festival Tour’s artists are Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, John Mellencamp, Billy Strings, Brittney Spencer, Celisse, and Southern Avenue. The tour kicked off on June 21 and will run for 25 shows, ending on September 17.

Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival Tour kicked off on June 21 in Alpharetta, Georgia, but sadly, Nelson did not appear on stage.

His team released a statement on his social media accounts earlier that day that read,

“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 also said he would likely join the tour the following week and that his son, Lukas Nelson, and his family band would “perform a special set to include Willie’s classics and other songs.”

All the other performers would be going on “as scheduled.”

So, Nelson missed the first three nights of the tour – June 21, 22, and 23, and was hoping to be back for the June 26 show.

But on June 26, his team released another statement saying he’d be missing the show that evening and they “expect Willie to return to the tour shortly.”

On June 28, Nelson was cleared by his doctors to “go back on the road again,” but would still miss the weekend’s shows. The announcement revealed that he would “resume performing on the Outlaw Tour” the following week.

On July 2, Nelson’s team revealed he would be missing one more Outlaw Music Festival Tour show, but he would definitely be performing at his famous 4th of July picnic.

Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic took place at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden, New Jersey and featured appearances by Willie, Boby Dylan, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Maren Morris, Mavis Staples, and Celisse.

After missing eight shows, Nelson was finally back on stage and was welcomed with a standing ovation.

Thanks to a video from Joyce Rizner, who attended the picnic, we can see nelson strap on Trigger, his guitar, as he is about to perform! After the show, Rizner said, “Willie looked good…clearly still battling some sinus/cold type of stuff but he powered through.”

According to Setlist.fm, where fans can submit artist set lists for certain performances, Nelson performed a total of 20 songs, ending it with “Living In The Promiseland,” which was so fitting for the Fourth of July!

Watch him take the stage at the 4th of July picnic below!