Willie Nelson’s Los Angeles 90th birthday celebration is destined for the concert history books.
“Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90,” the already power-packed two-night event at the Hollywood Bowl on April 29 (Nelson’s actual birthday) and April 30, has blown up to epic proportions with late-breaking additions.
“This is one of those weekends that people are going to be talking about forever,” musician Lyle Lovett told USA TODAY from the red carpet backstage at the Hollywood Bowl before the concert began 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 concert program has expanded.
“It’s just getting bigger and bigger by the moment,” says concert executive producer Keith Wortman. “And if anyone deserves this, it’s ole Willie boy.”
Nelson and his team have been eyeing this concert date since the music legend’s 85th birthday and eventually 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 segment 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 playing at Willie Nelson’s 90th birthday concert?
The list is staggering, with eclectic acts from Snoop Dogg to Shooter Jennings set to hit the stage to honor Nelson, who is in the seventh-decade of his iconic music career.
“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 includes 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 other celebrities will honor Willie Nelson?
Due to the Hollywood location, stars such as Chelsea Handler, Ethan Hawke, Gabriel Iglesias, Helen Mirren, Jennifer Garner, Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson will serve as presenters.
The birthday celebrant will perform throughout on both nights and expect 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 hottest ticket in town (single tickets start at $458 on Stubhub) and the concert event promises to be talked-about for many Willie Nelson birthdays to come.
“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 more of Willie? Read on:
All in the family:Brings in his sons and daughters for the first time on ‘Willie Nelson Family’ album
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2023 nominees:George Michael, Missy Elliott, Willie Nelson top the list
Not going anywhere:Willie Nelson declares he’s ‘Still Not Dead’