Willie Nelson made a triumphant return to the stage on Thursday evening at his 4th of July Picnic concert in Camden, N.J. The singer-songwriter, who is 91 years old, had been forced to miss several shows due to illness. Despite the setbacks, the Outlaw Music Festival tour is still scheduled to run through September 20 and features other legendary artists like Bob Dylan, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, John Mellencamp, and Billy Strings.
Nelson’s team shared a video on Instagram of the singer walking out on stage to a warm reception from fans. The caption read, “He’s baaacccckkkkk.” During the concert, Nelson performed more than 20 songs, including classics like “On the Road Again” and “Always on My Mind.” This appearance comes after Nelson had to cancel performances on his Outlaw Music Festival tour in late June due to his health issues. His team issued a statement on June 21, saying that Nelson had been advised by doctors to rest for four days but was expected to make a quick recovery and rejoin the tour.
The support and excitement from fans at the 4th of July Picnic concert marked a special moment for Nelson as he continues to bring his music to audiences around the world.