Willie Nelson performs at Fourth of July Picnic after health issues kept him from Outlaw Music Fest
Willie Nelson FILE PHOTO: (L-R) Chris Stapleton and Willie Nelson perform onstage during the 38th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Barclays Center on November 03, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ) (Theo Wargo/Getty Images for The Rock and Ro)
By Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Willie Nelson was absent from several Outlaw Music Festival shows over the past few weeks, but his annual Fourth of July Picnic went off as planned.
Nelson, 91, had missed about six music festival shows because of an unspecified illness, Rolling Stone reported. His doctors gave him the clearance to perform last week, but he still missed the July 2 concert, Ultimate Classic Rock reported.
However, he did take the stage in Camden, New Jersey on Thursday and was greeted by cheers from the crowd.
He then played his hits such as “On the Road Again” and “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys.” He was also joined on stage by his son Lukas, who joined his father to perform “Texas Flood” and Pearl Jam’s “Just Breathe,” according to Rolling Stone.
In all, Nelson performed a 10-song set, UCR reported.
The show also included Mavis Staples, Maren Morris and Bob Dylan among others, KYW reported.
The Outlaw Music Festival started on June 21 and Nelson had missed all of the shows before Thursday’s performance, Penn Live reported.
The next stop on the tour is in Bethel, New York, followed by dates in Pennsylvania, California, Idaho, Washington, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Michigan and New York before wrapping up on Sept. 20 at BankNH Pavillion in Gilford, New Hampshire.
Nelson has hosted the 4th of July Picnic starting in 1971, KXAN reported. There were several issues over the years, including a fire that destroyed the property (1972), a fine (1973), and several crimes and arrests in 1976. There was even a drowning and kidnappings at the 1976 concert. Typically it is held in Texas, but this was the first time in 15 years that it was held outside of the Lone Star State.
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years UNSPECIFIED - JANUARY 01: (AUSTRALIA OUT) Photo of American Country singer and songwriter Willie Nelson (Photo by GAB Archive/Redferns) (GAB Archive)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years FEBRUARY 13: Country singer/songwriter Willie Nelson performs onstage on February 13, 1979. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Michael Ochs Archives)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years Country-Rock singer Willie Nelson thrills a young crowd 40,000 strong as he opens his 'July 4th Picnic' in College Station, Texas. Crowds of over 150,000 are expected during the three day weekend music fest. (Bettmann)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years ATLANTA - October 28: Willie Nelson promotes his record "Red Headed Stranger" at Peaches Records and leaves his footprints in concrete on October 28, 1975 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Tom Hill/Getty Images) (Tom Hill)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years Willie Nelson during Willie Nelson Footprint Ceremony and In-Store Appearance Promoting "Red Headed Stranger" at Peaches Records in Atlanta - October 28, 1975. (Photo by Tom Hill/WireImage) (Tom Hill)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years Willie Nelson during Willie Nelson in Concert at the Great Southeast Music Hall in Atlanta - October 27, 1975 at Great Southeast Music Hall in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. (Photo by Tom Hill/WireImage) (Tom Hill)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years Willie Nelson Singing on "Saturday Night Live" (Photo by Owen Franken/Corbis via Getty Images) (Owen Franken - Corbis)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years Willie Nelson live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, circa 1977. (Photo by Terry Lott/Sony Music Archive via Getty Images) (Terry Lott)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years Portrait of country singer Willie Nelson at Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois - Champaign for the first Farm Aid Concert in Champaign, Illinois, September 22, 1985. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images) (Paul Natkin)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years (Original Caption) Farm Aid. Champaign, Illinois: Willie Nelson reads a letter from Jimmy Cagney expressing his support for the American farmers at the Farm Aid concert in Champaign, Illinois. (Bettmann)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years Willie Nelson performing at Farm Aid 2 in Austin, Texas, July 4, 1986. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images) (Paul Natkin)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - MARCH 23: Musician Willie Nelson poses for a portrait while attending the MCA Records' 'Rhythm, Country & Blues' concert at the Universal Amphitheatre on March 23, 1994 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Ron Davis/Getty Images) (Ron Davis)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - APRIL 20: Willie Nelson, vocals and guitar, performs at the Paradiso on April 20th 1996 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. (Photo by Frans Schellekens/Redferns) (Frans Schellekens)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years Willie Nelson performing onstage at Farm Aid in Columbia, South Carolina, October 12, 1996. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images) (Paul Natkin)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years Willie Nelson performing onstage at Farm Aid in Columbia, South Carolina, October 12, 1996. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images) (Paul Natkin)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years Willie Nelson performs as part of the Stagecoach Music Festival at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Corbis via Getty Images) (Tim Mosenfelder)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO -- Episode 3449 -- Pictured: Musical guest Willie Nelson performs on October 3, 2007 -- Photo by: Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank (NBC)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years GLASTONBURY, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 25: Willie Nelson performs on the Pyramid stage on the second day of Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm on June 25, 2010 in Glastonbury, England. (Photo by Tabatha Fireman/Redferns) (Tabatha Fireman)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years CAMP VERDE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 16: Willie Nelson performs at Cliff Castle Casino on September 16, 2011 in Camp Verde, Arizona. (Photo by Steve Jennings/WireImage) (Steve Jennings)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 26: Recording artist Willie Nelson attends the 56th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on January 26, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage) (Steve Granitz)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 05: Singer-songwriter Willie Nelson performs onstage during the GRAMMY Foundation's 17th annual Legacy Concert Lean On Me: A Celebration of Music and Philanthropy at Wilshire Ebell Theatre on February 5, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. For more information visit grammyfoundation.org. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/WireImage) (Frederick M. Brown)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years NEW YORK, NY - MAY 07: Musician Willie Nelson signs copies of his book "It's A Long Story: My Life" at Barnes & Noble Union Square on May 7, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage) (Jim Spellman)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 19: Musician, Songwriter and Singer Willie Nelson performs at FirstMerit Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island during 'Farm Aid 30' on September 19, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images) (Raymond Boyd)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years WASHINGTON, DC- NOVEMBER 17: (EDITORS NOTE: Image converted to black & white.) Willie Nelson check out artifacts after attending the 2015 Gershwin Prize Luncheon where he was honored with a certificate and an American flag in the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress on November 17, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images) (Kris Connor)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years WASHINGTON, DC- NOVEMBER 18: Honoree Willie Nelson poses on the red carpet during the 2015 Gershwin Prize Honoree's Tribute Concert Honoring Willie Nelson at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington DC on November 18, 2015. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images) (Kris Connor)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years WASHINGTON, DC- NOVEMBER 17: Honoree Willie Nelson attends the 2015 Gershwin Prize Luncheon where he was presented with a certificate and an American Flag in the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress on November 17, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images) (Kris Connor)
Photos: Willie Nelson through the years LUCK, TEXAS - MARCH 13: Willie Nelson performs in concert during The Luck Banquet on March 13, 2019 in Luck, Texas. (Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images) (Gary Miller)