Willie Nelson will miss the opening dates of the 2024 Outlaw Music Festival Tour due to an unspecified illness.
The 91-year-old country legend was scheduled to begin the tour on Friday night (June 21) at the Ameris Bank Amphitheatre in Alpharetta, Ga., alongside Bob Dylan, Robert Plant, Allison Krauss, and Celisse. However, he will be unable to attend the first weekend of shows on "doctor's orders," according to a post on his social media.
Nelson's team shared the following message on Friday afternoon, reports Taste of Country.
"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. He is expected to make a quick recovery and join the Outlaw Music Festival tour next week. In the meantime, Lukas Nelson and the Family Band, along with a few guests, will perform a special set to include Willie's classics and other songs. Bob Dylan, Robert Plant, Alison Krauss, and Celisse will continue to perform as scheduled."
Nelson has continued recording new music and touring well into his later years, but he has had to cancel shows occasionally in recent years due to various ailments.
According to Nelson's official tour schedule, the Outlaw Music Festival is set to run through Sept. 20, concluding with a show in Gilford, N.H. John Mellencamp, Billy Strings, Brittney Spencer, and Southern Avenue are also on the bill for select shows.
Willie Nelson released his most recent album, "The Border," on March 31, 2024. The project marked his 152nd album, according to a press release from Legacy Recordings.
