Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, & Kenny Rogers Specials to Air

The big tribute show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena for Willie Nelson that transpired on January 12th, 2019 is finally set to be broadcast for the rest of us who couldn’t attend, and it will include some behind-the-scenes footage and interviews as well.

Willie: Life & Songs of an American Outlaw was one of the latest tribute concerts for country legends put together by Blackbird Presents, and saw Chris Stapleton, Lee Ann Womack, Vince Gill, Norah Jones, Sturgill Simpson, Ray Benson, The Avett Brothers, Eric Church, and others tribute the country icon. It was also where fellow Texans George Strait and Willie Nelson sang a duet together for the first time.

Now we’ll have an opportunity to see what we missed when a two-hour special airs on A&E Sunday, April 12 at 10pm ET/PT. The special will include over 20 performances from various artists who appeared at the tribute show, as well as snippets of performers from backstage, and culminate in a singalong of Willie’s “On The Road Again.”

The airing is part of an extended lineup of original country music programming A&E has on tap for April. Right before the airing of the Willie Nelson tribute concert, the two-hour Biography: Dolly delving into the five-decade life an career of country icon Dolly Parton will air (Sunday, April 12 at 8pm ET/PT). The special covers Dolly’s life all the way from childhood to her recent celebration of 50 years at the Grand Ole Opry, with many interviews and vignettes from throughout her Hall of Fame run.

The the next day—Monday, April 13th at 9pm ET/PT—A&E will air Biography: Kenny Rogers. It chronicles Kenny’s life from his childhood, through the rise and fall of The First Edition, the iconic release of “The Gambler,” and to the height of his career as a successful solo artist. Similar to the Willie special, it will also include live performances and interviews from the Blackbird Presents-produced All In For The Gambler tribute concert that transpired in Nashville in 2017.

All three of the specials will then air on repeat several times in the coming weeks. Check local listings. If you were wondering when you would get a chance to see these tributes concerts, this will be your chance. So make up an appointment or program up the DVR, because this will be your opportunity.

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