91-year-old Willie Nelson returns to stage after long illness

Thank God.

We would be lying if we didn’t say it’s been a tense few weeks of nail biting and refreshing news for many Willie Nelson and country music fans. The 91-year-old has been forced to cancel several shows on his current Outlaw Festival tour due to an unspecified illness, and while the cancellations have been assured that he expects a speedy recovery, at 91 all illnesses seem inevitable.

It didn’t help that on several occasions, official letters set a future date for Willie’s return, only to have it pushed back again. Willie Nelson missed a total of seven Outlaw Festival stops, and disappointed but understanding fans were given fill-in shows by Willie’s son and Nelson’s successor, Lukas Nelson.

But all is right in the world on the night of July 4th, unless you are a dog with a strong aversion to fireworks. On Tuesday (7-2) announcing that Willie would be skipping the next stop of the Outlaw Festival in Mansfield, MA, they assured that Willie would be on stage at their annual July 4th picnic in Camden, New Jersey. And lo and behold, this time the promises were fulfilled, and Willie took the stage to a standing ovation.

It’s worth noting that Will Nelson is 91 years old. Most people don’t live that long, let alone traipse around the country on tour while releasing albums at a rate of two a year, as Willie does. His latest album Border was released on May 31.

Don’t take for granted what a miracle it is to see Willie, and if you’re interested in such things, don’t miss the opportunity. Some have seen Willie every year for over a decade, worried that this might be the last time, and he’s once again defying the odds.

From Camden, NJ to the United States and the world, Willie Nelson fans can breathe a sigh of relief, at least for now. All is right with the world, and Willie is still out there singing.