LOS ANGELES – Willie Nelson’s Hollywood Bowl ninetieth birthday celebration is within the live performance historical past books.
“Lengthy Story Brief: Willie Nelson 90,” the power-packed two-night occasion that kicked off Saturday (Nelson’s birthday) ended Sunday as a celebration worthy of the nation music icon.
“That is a type of weekends that persons are going to be speaking about eternally,” musician Lyle Lovett predicted to USA TODAY earlier than Saturday’s live performance. “I simply stated ‘sure’ instantly. I used to be honored to be requested.”
The lineup of performers – from Snoop Dogg to Chris Stapleton, The Chicks to Tom Jones – simply “reveals the ability of Willie Nelson,” Lovett stated. “There’s no person like him. Everybody right here has Willie Nelson in widespread, we’re all mechanically buddies due to him. The world wants that and the world wants Willie.”
Keith Richards paid respect to Nelson
After presenter Woody Harrelson introduced Nelson to the stage late Sunday night time, performers corresponding to Sheryl Crow stepped out to carry out with the seated Nelson. The duo performed their tune “Far Away Locations” earlier than Crow exited, giving Nelson an influence hug that knocked his hat off his head.
The last word drop-in go to was fellow outlaw rocker Keith Richards, 79, who thanked the Nelson for “being invited to this get together.” With Nelson’s sons Lukas, and Micah on guitar, the enduring duo performed “We Had It All” and “Stay Perpetually,” with the poignant chorus, “Identical to the songs I go away behind me / I’m gonna reside eternally, now.”
Your entire star-studded solid of the night’s musicians – together with Dwight Yoakum, Dave Matthews, Emmylou Harris, Beck, and The Avett Brothers – got here on stage for the gospel medley “Will the Circle Be Unbroken/I am going to Fly Away.”
However the night time was not full with out presenter Ethan Hawke insisting on a performer-and-audience rendition of “Pleased Birthday” to Nelson, who joined alongside.
His last phrases ending the weekend have been a joke, “Similar time tomorrow night time,” Nelson stated.
Day 1 featured Chris Stapleton to The Chicks
Nelson let his music superstars carry Saturday’s live performance’s first three hours. Kris Kristofferson joined Rosanne Money to sing his tune “Loving Her Was Simpler (Than Something I am going to Ever Do Once more).” Money poignantly allowed the 86-year-old Kristofferson to sing the ultimate phrases solo. As he walked off the stage with Money, an emotional Kristofferson saluted the viewers, which gave a standing ovation.
Nation music legend Kris Kristofferson retires, wrapping up 55-year profession
Helen Mirren launched Jones, a fellow Brit, who marveled at Nelson’s vitality. “I am 83, I’ve one thing to look ahead to,” stated Jones, who hits that age in June, earlier than breaking into “Alternative to Cry.”
Bob Weir sang “Blue Eyes Crying within the Rain” and The Chicks carried out a rowdy model of “Bloody Mary Morning.” Jennifer Garner launched Miranda Lambert, who wore a red-and-black jumpsuit with audacious purple fringe to carry out “Mamas Don’t Let Your Infants Develop As much as Be Cowboys.”
Stapleton carried out soulful variations of “Final Factor I Wanted First Factor This Morning” and “At all times on My Thoughts.”
Earlier than singing his tune “Willie Bought Me Stoned,” Jack Johnson alluded to a backstage get together that may have been maintaining Nelson off the live performance stage.
“It is a get together. We’re having an excellent time again there,” Johnson stated.
Willie Nelson carried out with Snoop Dogg, George Strait, Neil Younger
A beaming Nelson lastly strode onstage greater than three hours into the live performance, taking a seat to be a part of Neil Younger for “Are There Any Extra Actual Cowboys?”
“I need to thank all of the artists for serving to to have fun no matter we’re celebrating,” Nelson joked after the tune ended.
He sang two songs with nation music legend George Strait – “Sing One With Willie” and “Pancho and Lefty” – earlier than bringing his buddy Snoop Dogg to the stage.
“Hey, Snoop, come on out right here and assist me roll one up,” Nelson stated because the rapper, wielding a gold microphone, took a seat beside him to sing, “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me After I Die.” Snoop instructed the tune be carried out “in the important thing of smoke.”
After taking part in a joyful model of his traditional “On the Highway Once more,” Nelson began serenading himself with “Pleased Birthday to Me” from the stage.
The celebrant continued the humor together with his last tune, Mac Davis’ traditional, “It is Arduous to Be Humble” with the lyrics, “I am unable to wait to look within the mirror ‘trigger I get higher wanting every day.”
Nelson nonetheless had the power to forcefully throw his cowboy hat into the gang in the course of the last standing ovation.
Who else carried out at Willie Nelson’s birthday weekend?
Different performers on the weekend birthday live shows embody Beck, Billy Strings, Booker T. Jones, Buddy Cannon, Charley Crockett, Daniel Lanois, Dave Matthews, Dwight Yoakam, Edie Brickell, Emmylou Harris, Gary Clark Jr., Leon Bridges, Lily Meola, Lukas Nelson, Margo Value, Norah Jones, Orville Peck, Particle Child, Rodney Crowell, Sheryl Crow, Stephen Stills, Sturgill Simpson, The Avett Brothers, The Lumineers, Tyler Childers and Ziggy Marley.
“We put a considerate checklist collectively of Willie’s shut buddies and the household of musicians that Willie has both recorded or toured with,” government producer Keith Wortman stated. “And that simply occurs to be a very massive checklist.”
