Landmark Willie Nelson Tribute Concert to Finally Be Released

A once-in-a-lifetime event happened on January 12th, 2019 when a wide-ranging assemblage of talent from country music and beyond came together at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville to pay tribute to Willie Nelson. Called Willie: Life and Songs of an American Outlaw, unless you were there, you missed out on the full production put on by Blackbird Presents.

But now, just like a similar Merle Haggard tribute announced recently, the lion’s share of the concert is finally coming to a 2 CD and DVD set, with a release date of December 11th scheduled. It will include numerous performances by Willie Nelson himself, along with The Avett Brothers, Bobby Bare, Chris Stapleton, Dave Matthews, Emmylou Harris, Eric Church, George Strait, Jack Johnson, Jamey Johnson, Jimmy Buffett, Kris Kristofferson, Lee Ann Womack, Lukas Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Margo Price, Micah Nelson, Nathaniel Rateliff, Norah Jones and The Little Willies, Ray Benson, Rodney Crowell, Sheryl Crow (of course), Steve Earle, Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks, and Vince Gill.

A portion of the event aired on A&E in April, but this will be the full enchilada. The concert featured a house band that was led by Don Was that also included Mickey Raphael, Amanda Shires, and Jamey Johnson. Johnson also had one of the marquee performances of the event when he sang “Georgia On My Mind.” The tribute was also the first time George Strait and Willie Nelson ever performed together, and they debuted their duet, “Sing One With Willie.”

Though the full track list has yet to be released, you can see the complete set list from the concert below. The CD will include 24 tracks, and the DVD includes 27 performances. Willie: Life and Songs of an American Outlaw is now available for pre-order in a 2 CD audio only set, as well as 2 CD and DVD combo. And yes, it will make a good Christmas gift for country fans.

SET LIST:

“Whiskey River,” Chris Stapleton
“Three Days,” Lee Ann Womack
“Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” Margo Price & Bobby Bare
“Sister’s Coming Home,” Steve Earle & Margo Price
“I Thought About You, Lord/Just As I Am/Time of the Preacher/Bandera/Hands on the Wheel,” Micah & Lukas Nelson
“Milk Cow Blues,” Jason Isbell
“A Song for You,” Nathaniel Rateliff
“My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys,” Lyle Lovett
“Shotgun Willie,” Lyle Lovett & Ray Benson
“Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground,” Alison Krauss
“Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” Vince Gill
“Georgia on My Mind,” Jamey Johnson
“Somebody Pick Up My Pieces,” Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks
“City of New Orleans,” Willie Nelson with Tedeschi/Trucks
“Bloody Mary Morning,” The Avett Brothers
“Willie Got There First,” The Avett Brothers
“Remember Me,” Norah Jones and the Little Willies
“I Gotta Get Drunk,” Norah Jones and the Little Willies
“Willie Got Me Stoned,” Jack Johnson
“Red Headed Rounder,” Sturgill Simpson
“Me and Paul,” Eric Church
“Night Life,” John Mellencamp
“Funny How Times Slips Away,” Dave Matthews

With Willie Nelson:
“Crazy,” Dave Matthews
“After the Fire Is Gone,” Sheryl Crow
“Pancho and Lefty,” Emmylou Harris
“Til’ I Gain Control Again,” Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell
“Me and Bobby McGee,” Kris Kristofferson, Eric Church
“The Harder They Come,” Jimmy Buffett
“Always on My Mind,” Chris Stapleton, Derek Trucks
“Song One With Willie,” George Strait
“Good Hearted Woman,” George Strait
“On the Road Again/May the Circle Be Unbroken/I’ll Fly Away,” full cast
“Roll Me Up and Smoke Me,” full cast