Social media waited with bated breath as Willie Nelson canceled multiple performances on doctor’s orders. The 91-year-old legend has been a force in country music since his 1962 debut …And Then I Wrote. Sixty-two years and 114 albums later, the Red-Headed Stranger’s music is still a source of light for many. After some rest and recuperation, the “Always On My Mind” singer triumphantly returned to the stage on Thursday (July 4) for his annual Fourth of July picnic. That’s where he teamed up with son Lukas Nelson for this special rendition of a 1986 hit.
“God Bless Willie Nelson”: Fans React to Father-Son Duet
If you can’t have Willie Nelson, his offspring is the next best thing. Lukas Nelson stepped up to the mic while his father was out of commission on the Outlaw Music Festival tour. Fans gushed that the lead singer of country-rock outfit Promise of the Real channeled his dad’s spirit perfectly. As one fan put it, “simply perfect.”
[RELATED: Lukas Nelson Is Having a Moment After Stepping up for Ailing Father Willie During Outlaw Festival]
Of course, what’s better than one Nelson? Two Nelsons. The Camden, New Jersey crowd was delighted when the two joined forces for Willie’s 1986 hit “Living in the Promiseland.”
The first single off Willie’s 33rd studio album, The Promiseland, was the singer-songwriter’s 12 No. 1 hit. Striking in their simplicity, the lyrics sing of an America where there’s “room for everyone:” Give us your tired and weak / And we will make them strong / Bring us your foreign songs / And we will sing along / Leave us your broken dreams / We’ll give them time to mend.
A video of the performance made its way to YouTube, where the comments section was glowing. “It was hot, it was humid, it was a day and night of fantastic music from legends!” one user wrote. “God bless Willie Nelson!!!!”
Another added, “Simply amazing, what a blessing to this world. Long live Willie!”
See Willie’s Live Debut of New Song “The Border”
Most 91-year-olds are not putting out new songs—much less performing those songs live. However, Willie Nelson isn’t most 91-year-olds. The outlaw country legend debuted his new song, “The Border” for the Camden, New Jersey crowd.
The Border is the Rodney Crowell-penned title track from Willie’s 75th studio album of the same name, which dropped in May.
Featured image by Matt Kincaid/Getty Images)
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