Willie Nelson Turns 90: A Star-Studded Tribute Fit for a Country Legend
Willie Nelson celebrated his milestone 90th birthday with a legendary two-night concert event, “Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90,” held at the iconic Hollywood Bowl on April 29–30, 2023. The celebration brought together an extraordinary lineup of musical friends and collaborators to honor one of the most influential figures in American music.
The concerts featured performances from country royalty and genre-spanning stars, including Emmylou Harris, Keith Richards, Snoop Dogg, Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Tom Jones, George Strait, Kris Kristofferson, and Rosanne Cash—who delivered an emotional duet. Backed by a house band led by Don Was, the stage was shared by Lyle Lovett, Norah Jones, Sheryl Crow, Rodney Crowell, Nathaniel Rateliff, Bobby Weir, Gary Clark Jr., and of course, the guest of honor himself.
“There’s no better way to spend my 90th birthday than surrounded by my family, friends, and fans,” said Nelson in the initial announcement. “It’s a real honor to share the stage with so many incredible artists at such a legendary venue.”
The shows lasted four hours each, packed with memorable performances from the likes of Chris Stapleton, Beck, Billy Strings, Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert, the Avett Brothers, Jack Johnson, and Nelson’s sons, Lukas and Micah. The opening song of the celebration was “Whiskey River,” performed by Billy Strings.
Lyle Lovett, speaking on the red carpet, captured the spirit of the event: “When you’re with Willie, you walk away feeling inspired.” Rosanne Cash reflected on growing up around Nelson and his fellow Highwaymen, calling them the “Mt. Rushmore guys,” and highlighting the emotional gravity of performing with Kristofferson—one of the last surviving members—on what would be his final public performance before his passing in September 2024. Their duet on “Lovin’ Her Was Easier” concluded with a heartfelt embrace.
Norah Jones honored Willie’s late sister, pianist Bobbie Nelson, with a rendition of “Down Yonder,” and followed it up with “Funny How Time Slips Away.” Tom Jones, 83 at the time, offered a stirring take on “Opportunity To Cry,” joking, “I’ve got something to look forward to.”
Stephen Stills and Neil Young reunited to perform “Long May You Run” and “For What It’s Worth,” before joining Nelson himself for “Are There Any More Real Cowboys.” Nelson didn’t appear until three hours into the show, but when he did, the energy soared.
Another showstopper came when Nelson and George Strait duetted on Strait’s “Sing One With Willie,” followed by a fun, weed-honoring performance with Snoop Dogg of “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die.”
The night wrapped with a communal rendition of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” followed by the crowd singing “Happy Birthday” and “It’s Hard To Be Humble” in honor of Nelson.
Though not officially listed in the lineup, Keith Richards made a surprise appearance on the second night, stepping onto the stage to a roaring crowd.
“Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. It’s good to be here; it’s good to be anywhere,” Richards joked, before performing “We Had It All” and “Live Forever” alongside Nelson.
The entire celebration was produced by Blackbird Presents and has since been released in various formats for fans around the world to relive.
The event capped off a monumental year for Nelson, who—despite turning 90—continued to tour, headline festivals like Farm Aid and his Outlaw Music Festival Tour, release multiple albums, earn four Grammy nominations, and debut a five-part documentary at Sundance. He even found time to author another book.
Willie Nelson remains a towering figure in American culture—a musician, writer, activist, and living legend whose legacy grows deeper with each passing year. His 90th birthday celebration was more than a tribute—it was a history-making musical moment.