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There is no question that Willie Nelson is an icon.
His popularity transcends musical genres and his coolness has withstood the test of time. But he is also 91-years-old, so when he is forced to drop out of a show due to health reasons, and that is accompanied by a social media post that consists of a black box with plain white type that begins with, “We regret to inform you …” well … more than a few fans’ hearts skipped a beat on Friday.
For full context, Nelson missed the opening day of the Outlaw Music Festival in Georgia on doctor’s orders, and his team announced it via his X, formerly Twitter, account.
“We regret to inform you that Willie Nelson is not feeling well and, per doctor’s orders, has been advised to rest for the next four days,” that post to Nelson’s X account on Friday read. “He is expected to make a quick recovery and join the Outlaw Music Festival tour next week. In the meantime, Lukas Nelson and the Family Band, along with a few guests, will perform a special set to include Willie’s classics and other songs.”
Again, fans’ heart sank when the saw the start of the post, and they made sure to let his team know about that.
“Jesus you scared the heck out of us,” one person responded. “Professionally, if he is gonna be ok, do not start off with we regret to inform you about a 91 year old.”
You could have just removed the first line and spared us all from the heartbreak,” another person wrote.
“For real!!!” another responded to that post. “What the hell??”
You can not just start a tweet with ‘We regret to inform you that Willie Nelson,’” another person wrote.
“Man, I thought for a sec …. Get well Willie,” another wrote. “The world needs you now more than ever.”
“This was so scary!” another wrote. “Get well soon, Willie!”
There were plenty of prayers and well-wishes coming in again because, again, just about everyone loves Willie Nelson.
And, to be clear, Willie Nelson isn’t dead. That’s great news.
The bad news, of course, is that fans in Georgia did not get a chance to see the iconic singer on stage, and it looks like fans in Charlotte, North Carolina and Virginia won’t get to see him either. There is more good news though because it at least sounds as though this isn’t a big-time setback and he will be returning to the stage soon enough.
Central Pa. fans certainly hope so because the Outlaw Music Festival is slated to stop at Hersheypark Stadium on July 7.
