Willie Nelson “Doing Great” After Health Problems – Resuming Tour

photo: Brad Coolidge

Willie Nelson had a lot of folks worried when late on August 7th, he released a statement saying, “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.” The statement came after Willie had been performing at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio and was clearly experiencing breathing issues on stage.

“Cancel my tour” seemed pretty fatalistic, and had many fans concerned for the well-being of the 86-year-old country legend. But ultimately the cancellations have only affected six dates that Willie had on his calendar in August with Alison Krauss. Willie Nelson will resume touring on September 6th in Gilford, NH as one of nine tour dates throughout September as part of the Outlaw Music Festival, as well as his annual Farm Aid benefit on September 21st at the Alpine Valley Music Theater in Wisconsin. All other scheduled tour dates are also a go at the moment.

A lot of folks been asking – spoke to Dad and he’s fine, just going for a check up,” son and frequent tour partner Lukas Nelson tweeted out a few days after the cancellations. “At 86 you gotta make sure everything is running smoothly so you can keep doing 100 + shows a year! He HATES to miss shows because he loves the folks who love him!”

Then on Wednesday, August 15th, daughter Paula Nelson posted an older picture of her with her father and said, So happy to spend some time with this wonderful human. He’s doing great!! Love you Papabear.”

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.’”

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.

With the recent health scare, all the more reason to make sure you see Willie when you can. In fact a few new dates have just been added to his calendar for November.

Willie Nelson Tour Dates:

September 6th – Outlaw Music Fest – Gilford, NH
September 7th – Outlaw Music Fest – Saratoga Springs, NY
September 8th – Outlaw Music Fest – Darien Center, NY
September 11th – Outlaw Music Fest – Forest Hills, NY
September 13th – Outlaw Music Fest – Philadelphia, PA
September 14th – Outlaw Music Fest – Virginia Beach, VA
September 15th – Outlaw Music Fest – Raleigh, NC
September 17th – The Ballpark at Jackson – Jackson, TN
September 20th – Outlaw Music Fest – Noblesville, IN
September 21st – Farm Aid 2019 – East Troy, WI
September 22nd – Outlaw Music Fest – Cncinatti, OH
October 11th – Nugget Event Center – Sparks, NV
October 12th – Frost Ampitheater – Stanford, CA
October 14th – The Big Fresno Fair – Fresno, CA
October 16th – Graton Resort & Casino – Rohnert Park, CA
October 18,19,22,23,25,26 – Venetian Theatre – Las Vegas, NV
November 15th – Billby Bob’s Texas, Ft. Worth, TX
November 16th – Golden Nugget Casino – Lake Charles, LA
November 18th – Smart Financial Center – Sugarland, TX
November 19th – The Grand 1894 Opera House – Galveston, TX
November 22nd – IP Casino Resort & Spa – Biloxi, MS
November 29th – WinStar World Casino and Resort – Thackerville, OK

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