Willie Nelson Cancels Tour Due to Breathing Problems
This story has been updated.
Willie Nelson has canceled his current tour due to breathing problems. This was the news coming out of the Willie Nelson camp late Wednesday evening (8-7) after he performed a show Wednesday at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio and experienced breathing issues. Which exact upcoming tour dates will be affected were not announced.
A simple statement posted from Willie Nelson read, “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”
Willie Nelson is currently on a headlining tour with Alison Krauss through the end of August, with six more dates left to go, staring with August 9th in Grand Rapids, MI at the Van Andel Arena, going until August 17th in Greensboro, NC at the Greensboro Coliseum. These dates most certainly will be affected by the cancellations.
Willie Nelson then has nine tour dates as part of the Outlaw Music Festival throughout September, as well as his annual Farm Aid benefit on September 21st at the Alpine Valley Music Theater in Wisconsin. At this point it is undetermined if these dates will be affected, or if it will be dependent on how Willie Nelson feels. Willie then has an additional ten tour dates on his calendar for October, and two in November at the moment.
UPDATE: According to Willie Nelson’s publicist, only the August dates are being affected by the cancellations at the moment. Willie’s Outlaw Fest dates in September and the live dates beyond are still on.
The 86-year-old has had to cancel shows previously due to health problems. In late 2016 into early 2017, Willie Nelson canceled and postponed numerous tour dates due to an undisclosed illness. However besides one incident in May of 2018, Willie’s health has been holding up well over the last couple of years, and he’s been maintaining a regular tour schedule.
In October of 2015, Willie Nelson had a stem cell procedure to help him with his breathing problems. “Over the years I’ve smoked a lot of cigarettes, and I’ve had emphysema and pneumonia four or five times, so my lungs were really screwed up,” Willie said at the time. “I had heard that this stem-cell operation would be good for them. So I said, ‘Well, I’m gonna try it out.’ “
More information on Willie Nelson’s condition, and what exact tour dates have been canceled and which ones are still pending when the information is made available.
Canceled Willie Nelson Tour Dates with Allison Krauss:
- Aug 9 – Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich.
- Aug 10 – Big Sandy Superstore Arena in Huntington, W.Va.
- Aug 12 – Florence Center in Florence, S.C.
- Aug 14 – John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Va.
- Aug 16 – Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C.
- Aug 17 – Greensboro Coliseum Complex in Greensboro, N.C.
wvcountry
August 7, 2019 @ 11:40 pm
Hate hearing this so much! Prayers for Willie! Hopefully were not about to lose one of the last true legends.
Liz Waddington
August 8, 2019 @ 10:01 am
Please have a speedy recovery Willie.. I love your music I,m a huge fan Get Well God bless Liz xxx
Harpo
August 8, 2019 @ 3:01 am
I wish you nothing but the very best, Willie.
hoptowntiger94
August 8, 2019 @ 4:35 am
We saw him in June and he was very strong. I liked the show because his sons were not part of the tour stop and his set was a little different. He did 3 new songs from the very underrated “Ride Me Back Home” (and a video intro to the title track). We have tickets for a September show. Hopefully, he’s healed by then; more important, he takes his time.
tom hennessy
August 8, 2019 @ 4:52 am
Breathing problems can be caused by increased red blood cells. Hypoxia from smoking causes increased red blood cells, ‘smokers polycythemia’. The lowering of red blood cells increases the ability to breathe.
“Phlebotomy decreases blood volume and viscosity, increases cardiac output and improves exercise tolerance in patients”
” phlebotomy reduces arterial oxygen content, it also decreases blood viscosity, improves peripheral oxygen consumption and thus yields the clinical benefit”
Andrew
August 8, 2019 @ 5:59 am
I saw Willie last Saturday in Lincoln and this makes sense. I was really underwhelmed by the show, though given his age I wasn’t expecting anything particularly great.
Allison Krauss was excellent though. Anyone who gets the chance to see her definitely should.
hoptowntiger94
August 8, 2019 @ 6:51 am
You have to read the review for the Pittsburgh show in June. Alison Krauss was bookend by Old Crow Medicine Show and Avett Brothers (we elected to walk around during her set). The reviewer (Scott Mervis) said a 60 something year old couple walked by him and the guy said to his wife, “she’s (Krauss) really sucking the life out of this concert.”
Gina
August 8, 2019 @ 7:18 am
I actually felt the same way about her.
hoptowntiger94
August 8, 2019 @ 6:54 am
“At one point, a guy, in his 60s, walked by me saying to his wife, “This lady’s sucking the life out of this place.”
https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music/2019/06/23/Willie-Nelson-Outlaw-Music-Festival-Avett-Brothers-review-KeyBank-Old-Crow-Krauss/stories/201906230162
Lessthanpi
August 8, 2019 @ 7:11 am
She was sharp in Minneapolis on 8/2 though all the old people in my section were whining because they only wanted Willie. I’ll chalk it up to a 730 start being past their bedtimes.
akus1985
August 8, 2019 @ 10:56 am
I’ve seen Alison Krauss 25 times live and I’ll admit her sets have become more somber over the years. Right now she’s currently (still) on the Windy City tour which is a very somber album, so the song selection is veered more towards soft country, but when she’s with Union Station (Even though Ron, Barry are with her, the band touring with her right now isn’t Union Station as some people mistakenly believe) her sets are much more energetic.
Gina
August 8, 2019 @ 7:17 am
Man, poor Willie. He did sound more labored than usual at Outlaw in St. Louis. I hope he gets better soon.
Corncaster
August 8, 2019 @ 7:19 am
Poor Willie. The smokes are gonna getcha in the end, like they always do. We sure do love you.
Big Cat
August 8, 2019 @ 8:15 am
If I can smoke pot everyday and make it to 86 I would be ecstatic. If I could smoke pot everyday, be a country music legend playing until the day I die and live to 86+ I’d be one of the biggest badasses to ever walk the planet… oh wait that’s Willie.
Prayers
Garry Rogers
August 8, 2019 @ 9:08 am
Seen Willie in May of 2006 here in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Great concert. Prayers go out to you and God Bless.
Janie mcAtee
August 8, 2019 @ 9:12 am
Prayers for a very speedy recovery, Willie🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻!
Luckyoldsun
August 8, 2019 @ 10:15 am
The man is 86 years old. Just because he’s a music superstar and legend does not make him physically different from other people of that age group. And he’s had a lifetime of heavy smoking. He’s been cancelling concerts because of breathing issues for years, now. I’m getting the feeling that there may be other people are pushing Willie Nelson to travel the country and go out on stages in different cities–people who make a living from that.
At this point, call me highly skeptical that it’s Willie Nelson’s choice to spend the last months of his life in concert venues
Lefty Throckmorton
August 9, 2019 @ 10:40 pm
This sounds similar to what Paul McCartney’s going through: Note to Paul McCartney: please stop (plus this observation); people are also doing this to McCartney as well, or he’s doing it to himself (overbooking tours.) Both men need to think about retiring soon, as much as I hate to say this.
Luckyoldsun
August 10, 2019 @ 7:36 am
Paul McCartney is in his late 70s. Same age as a couple of current U.S. Presidential candidates. There’s a vast difference in people’s abilities to be in control of thing between late 70s and late 80s.
And Paul McCartney does not “tour” in the touring artist sense. McCartney is an ultra-rich international icon. He does occasional concerts, which are each an “event.” I’m sure he travels in a private jet and has first class accommodations wherever he goes.
To me, the Willie Nelson and Paul McCartney situations are not equivalent.
Tex Hex
August 8, 2019 @ 10:17 am
Former cigarette smoker’s opinion here. Props to Willie always, and I hope he gets through this, but it reminds me how annoyed I get when pot smokers are like “It’s totally safe, bro! There’s no proven deaths from smoking pot!”
Yeah, I’m not worried about death from the high, rather the inevitable shitty side effects from inhaling burnt plant matter, ash, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide etc. Nobody purposely sticks their head over an open brush fire or fireplace, inhaling deep, for a reason.
DJ
August 8, 2019 @ 10:44 am
Comparing apples to oranges isn’t much of a comparison- current cigarette smoker here- started at 14 or 15, at 71 if I died yesterday, so what? Many have died earlier who didn’t don’t put their head in ovens or breathe in an open brush fire or fireplace- neither have I. Can’t speak to where Willie has stuck his head.
That aside- watching his latest videos I’ve noticed his breathing problems and, honestly, wondered when it would effect live performances- again. At 86 all I can say is: You go Willie- do it your way. Not only is it your Right, you are entitled (as in earned) to live the way you want.
You tube, or something similar, will ensure your legacy remains- The Epitome of the Wandering Minstrel and arguably the most prolific singer/songwriter to have ever graced this thing we call life.
Tex Hex
August 8, 2019 @ 11:26 am
Not really sure what your point is on the smoking thing. Sure, my granddad smoked a pack of Marlboro reds every day since he was a kid (influencing my own smoking habit at a young age), but survived into old age and died of something else. Death comes for us all in its own way, but why tempt it by adopting or prolonging bad habits? Do it if you enjoy it, fine, but why dismiss it like it doesn’t matter?
Also, not trying to shame Willie or anybody else. Just sayin’ inhaling burnt vegetation of any kind is not going to be kind on your body over time, whether it’s cigarettes or pot (of which Willie has enjoyed both for a long time). I think we often celebrate our musician heroes for their “hard livin'” lifestyles because we either enjoy watching others dance on the edge of the fire, or want to justify our own self-destructive behavior.
Anyway, again, most important of all – thoughts and prayers for Willie to get better soon.
Ann Stokman
August 9, 2019 @ 9:52 am
Sorry to hear this news.
Christian
August 13, 2019 @ 4:00 pm
I doubt Willie Nelson will see 2020. In 2013, George Jones played a show in Knoxville before cancelling the rest of his scheduled dates. Three weeks after that Knoxville show, the Possum passed away.
Laurie
November 13, 2019 @ 9:20 pm
Saw Willie at the Budweiser Centre in Toronto on. He was great as always. Have seen him everytime he comes to Ontario. It’s a bitch any kind of breathing problems so Thanks Willie for performing . If I don’t get to see you in concert in Ont again , I enjoyed watching you perform at the CMA,s tonight. I WISH YOU HEALTH WILLIE.