Willie Nelson’s Los Angeles 90th birthday celebration is destined for the live performance historical past books.
“Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90,” the already power-packed two-night occasion on the Hollywood Bowl on April 29 (Nelson’s precise birthday) and April 30, has blown as much as epic proportions with late-breaking additions.
“This is one of those weekends that people are going to be talking about forever,” musician Lyle Lovett instructed USA TODAY from the crimson carpet backstage on the Hollywood Bowl earlier than the live performance started Saturday. “I got the word, and I said, just tell me where. I was honored. I flew up from Austin on Southwest and everybody was going to the concert. It was a party.”
The live performance program has expanded.
“It’s just getting bigger and bigger by the moment,” says live performance government producer Keith Wortman. “And if anyone deserves this, it’s ole Willie boy.”
Nelson and his crew have been eyeing this live performance date for the reason that music legend’s eighty fifth birthday and finally landed on the Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl.
“We thought that this iconic venue would be really cool,” says Wortman, who spoke to USA TODAY Thursday after watching Nelson rehearse a section onstage with Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards.
“These two old friends playing tunes together, that’s what makes Willie the happiest,” says Wortman. “That’s how he’s doing his birthday, with all of his friends and family coming up to play together.”
Who is enjoying at Willie Nelson’s 90th birthday live performance?
The record is staggering, with eclectic acts from Snoop Dogg to Shooter Jennings set to hit the stage to honor Nelson, who is within the seventh-decade of his iconic music profession.
“We put a thoughtful list together of all of Willie’s close friends and family of musicians that he’s either recorded with or toured with,” says Wortman. “And that just happens to be a very large list.”
That contains Beck, Billy Strings, Bobby Weir, Booker T. Jones, Buddy Cannon, Charley Crockett, Chris Stapleton, Daniel Lanois, Dave Matthews, Dwight Yoakam, Edie Brickell, Emmylou Harris, Gary Clark Jr., George Strait, Jack Johnson, Kris Kristofferson, Leon Bridges, Lily Meola, Lukas Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Margo Price, Miranda Lambert, Neil Young, Norah Jones, Orville Peck, Particle Kid, Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Stephen Stills, Sturgill Simpson, The Avett Brothers, The Chicks, The Lumineers, Tom Jones, Tyler Childers and Ziggy Marley.
What different celebrities will honor Willie Nelson?
Due to the Hollywood location, stars resembling Chelsea Handler, Ethan Hawke, Gabriel Iglesias, Helen Mirren, Jennifer Garner, Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson will function presenters.
The birthday celebrant will carry out all through on each nights and anticipate many duets, trios and multi-artist jams.
“And we have a few more surprises up our sleeves that we’ll keep up our sleeves until they happen at the concert,” says Wortman.
It’s already the most popular ticket on the town (single tickets begin at $458 on Stubhub) and the live performance occasion guarantees to be talked-about for a lot of Willie Nelson birthdays to return.
“This is truly shaping up to be a historic music event,” says Wortman. “I’m not sure if we’re going to be wheeling out a cake on the stage, but there’s going to be cake somewhere.”
Want extra of Willie? Read on:
All within the household:Brings in his little kids for the primary time on ‘Willie Nelson Family’ album
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2023 nominees:George Michael, Missy Elliott, Willie Nelson prime the record
Not going anyplace:Willie Nelson declares he is ‘Still Not Dead’
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