Country Star Willie Nelson, 91, Cancels Several Tour Dates ‘Per Doctor’s Orders’

Willie Nelson performs onstage during MusiCares Person of the Year honoring Dolly Parton in Los Angeles, Calif., on Feb. 8, 2019. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Country music singer Willie Nelson has canceled several upcoming performances following an illness.

According to a statement shared Wednesday on Instagram, Nelson, 91, would not perform at a concert for the “Outlaw Music Festival Tour” in Virginia Beach, Virginia, scheduled for later that night.

“Willie Nelson will not be performing at tonight’s show in Virginia Beach. We expect Willie to return to the tour shortly,” the statement reads.

The statement added that artists Bob Dylan, Robert Plant, Alison Krauss, and Celisse would still perform at the event, while Lukas Nelson, son of the 91-year-old country star, would perform his “own set,” including his father’s classics.

“Bob Dylan, Robert Plant, and Alison Krauss, Celisse will perform as scheduled,” the statement continued. “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.”

While the reason for Nelson’s latest absence is unclear, previous performance cancellations have been attributed to an unspecified illness.

On June 21, Nelson canceled his scheduled debut in the “Outlaw Music Festival Tour” in Atlanta due to being unwell. He was advised by his doctor to rest for four days, according to 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 reads. “He is expected to make a quick recovery and join the Outlaw Music Festival tour next week.”

A representative for Nelson updated “Today” on the performer’s health, at the time, stating that he plans to travel to his upcoming shows on the east coast.

“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.

The tour continues at the Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview, Syracuse, New York, on June 28, with Nelson scheduled to perform. The country singer has not announced a date for his return to the stage.

In February, Nelson shared an Instagram post about the 2024 “Outlaw Music Festival Tour,” announcing its return with an “incredible lineup of legendary artists” that will join him on tour.

“This year’s Outlaw Music Festival Tour promises to be the biggest and best yet with this lineup of legendary artists,” Nelson said, 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.”

In August 2019, Nelson almost canceled his “On the Road Again” tour due to a “breathing problem,” he said in a post on X.

“To my fans, I’m sorry to cancel my tour, but I have a breathing problem that I need to have my doctor check out. I’ll be back. Love, Willie.”

Soon after, an update on Facebook was posted that he was “resting and feeling better” and the tour would resume on Sept. 6 in Gilford, New Hampshire.

Nelson’s Career

Willie Nelson was born in Abbott, Texas on April 29, 1933. After high school, he served in the U.S. Air Force for nine months before receiving a medical discharge due to back problems. In the following years, Nelson worked as a disc jockey and made some of his earliest recordings.

In the early 1960s, Nelson settled in Nashville, where he found success in writing songs for other artists. “Hello Walls” sung by Faron Young, and Patsy Cline’s version of the song “Crazy” are examples of Nelson’s work topping the country charts.

Nelson’s 1962 singles “Touch Me” and “Willingly” reached the country Top Ten after signing with Liberty Records. 13 years later, his album “Red-Headed Stranger” soared to No. 1 on the country charts while also charting in the pop genre. Found in the album is the song “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” which reached No. 1 in the country charts and earned him his first Grammy.

Nelson has earned 12 Grammy Awards, 11 Country Music Awards, and six Academy of Country Music Awards. In 1993, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and in 1999, he received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

The country legend has also ventured into other forms of entertainment, such as acting and production. In 1979, Nelson made his first acting debut in “The Electric Horseman.” Other movies Nelson acted in include “Coming Out of the Ice,” “The Dukes of Hazzard” and “Stagecoach,” the final film including appearances by country artists Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson.

In 2023, Nelson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The “Good Hearted Woman” star performed alongside artists Chris Stapleton, Sheryl Crow, and Dave Matthews.

“Willie Nelson is an American institution – a songwriter, performer, anti-establishment outlaw, political activist, and a philanthropist. His songs tell stories of everyday people, and his personal actions support the welfare of American life,” a statement from the website reads.

Nelson is married to Annie D’Angelo and shares two children with her. He has six other children from previous relationships, two of whom have passed away.