Willie Nelson Abruptly Cancels Another Show, Reportedly Has a Stomach Bug
Willie Nelson abruptly canceled his show in Charlotte, N.C., on Saturday night (May 26), after it had already begun. The country legend is reportedly ill, but isn't going to let it affect more than that one show.
Nelson's 2018 Outlaw Music Festival was stopping at Charlotte's PNC Music Pavilion when he twice walked on- and offstage before fans were told that the show was being canceled. The Music Universe reports that, during his second time onstage, Nelson threw his hat out to the crowd before leaving; readers can see video of that moment above.
The Charlotte Observer says that the show's cancellation wasn't explained to fans for more than an hour after Nelson left the stage. Live Nation issued a statement on Twitter late Saturday night asking fans to "hold on to their tickets until the new date is announced."
Nelson's publicist tells the Music Universe that Nelson has a stomach bug but will make up his performance in Charlotte at a later time. He is still planning to perform on Sunday night (May 27), at a show in Washington, DC, with Sturgill Simpson.
Nelson has come under a significant amount of scrutiny regarding his health over the past year: In January, Nelson similarly abruptly ended a performance Harrah’s Resort SoCal shortly after it began due to breathing issues; he then canceled additional tour dates in order to recover from the flu. Nelson was also forced to cancel a string of tour dates in late 2016 and early 2017, due to an undisclosed illness; however, he remained healthy throughout the rest of that year, and his publicist shot down a March 2017 rumor that he was "deathly ill."
Since canceling those 2018 tour dates, Nelson has remained healthy and on the road. His Outlaw Music Festival -- featuring, among others, Nelson, Simpson, Alison Krauss and Old Crow Medicine Show -- began on Friday (May 25) in Raleigh, N.C. He released a new album, Last Man Standing, on April 27, two days before his 85th birthday.
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