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CBS presents WILLIE NELSON’S 90TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, a concert special honoring the legendary career of music icon Willie Nelson, Sunday, Dec. 17 (8:30-10:30 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+)*. The news was announced during Nelson’s appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” last night, Thursday, Nov. 2.

The star-studded special, recorded live earlier this year across two nights before a sold-out crowd at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, celebrates Nelson’s milestone 90th birthday and the 12-time GRAMMY® Award-winner’s contributions to popular culture and music. This historic concert event of the year features unforgettable collaborations and once-in-a-lifetime performances by Willie Nelson, Beck, Gary Clark Jr., Sheryl Crow, Snoop Dogg, Norah Jones, Miranda Lambert, Dave Matthews, Nelson’s sons Lukas Nelson and Micah Nelson, Keith Richards, George Strait, and Chris Stapleton. The special is hosted by stars Jennifer Garner, Chelsea Handler, Woody Harrelson, Ethan Hawke, Helen Mirren and Owen Wilson.  

“It is the sincere privilege of our lives to have produced these shows celebrating our beloved Willie, and to partner with CBS to bring this special to fans around the world,” said Mark Rothbaum and Keith Wortman, creators and executive producers of WILLIE NELSON’S 90TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION. “Viewers will now have the chance to sing, and laugh, and cry and experience the joy of this celebration like never before.” 

WILLIE NELSON’S 90TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION is a production of Blackbird Presents. 

*Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to steam live but will have access to on-demand the day after the special airs.

Willie Nelson will appear on the Stephen Colbert show tonight and tomorrow night. Tonight he will perform a son with his sons, and tomorrow night Stephen will interview Willie about his new book, release of birthday movie, new album, his tour and all the other exciting things Willie has going on.

photo: Janis Tillerson

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by: Preston Jones

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The end of 2023 is in sight, but before this year slips away, there is, incredibly, a fresh batch of Willie Nelson news to catch you up on. (Again, as we’ve noted a few times over the course of the year, Willie has a whole lot going on.)

A new book

First and foremost, the 90-year-old icon is releasing Energy Follows Thought: The Stories Behind My Songs, arguably his most insightful, revelatory book to date – the singer-songwriter has authored or co-authored what seems like umpteen tomes over the years. In this one, he zeroes in on 160 of his songs to explore the meanings and motivations behind a sliver of his life’s work.

Co-written with David Ritz and Mickey Raphael, the 400-page Thought is extraordinary for how frankly Nelson pulls apart everything from his classics (“On the Road Again”: “Without knowing or trying, in a few little lines I’d written the story of my life.”) to his deeper cuts (“Bring It On”: “Sometimes I sound braver in my songs than I feel in real life.”) with the same kind of wit and insight he deploys in his music.

The anecdotes are augmented with a slew of rare photos, and for Nelson aficionados, the handsome book is nothing short of a treasure trove.

The Hall of Fame

Nelson is also being inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Friday, during a ceremony at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, which will be broadcast live on Disney+ starting at 7 p.m. Central. (ABC will air a special featuring moments from the induction ceremony on Jan. 1.) As part of the event, Nelson will perform.

TV

You can also catch Nelson on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert not once, but twice this week — he’s scheduled to perform on Nov. 1, and sit down for a conversation with Colbert on Nov. 2.

Reissues

In another nod to Nelson’s 90^th birthday this year, several of his albums have been reissued on vinyl. The Great Divide made its debut on wax in June, followed by Teatro in August, and Milk Cow Blues in September. Earlier this month, Spirit was reissued as well. Each album is available on 180-gram vinyl, and colored variants of all four LPs are available via Nelson’s website.

Birthday concert release

And last, but by no means least, Nelson has announced that this year’s star-studded 90^th birthday concert at the Hollywood Bowl will be released on CD, Blu-ray, and vinyl next month, featuring performances from a slew of fellow Texans, including Norah Jones, Edie Brickell, Lyle Lovett, Leon Bridges, Gary Clark Jr., Miranda Lambert, and Charley Crockett.

Photo from Seventeen Magazine 1985

photo by Scott Moore

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