Willie Nelson's 90th Birthday Celebration

[ Helicopter blades whirring ] -This weekend, dozens of artists and thousands of fans will come together at the Hollywood Bowl to wish music icon Willie Nelson a very happy birthday.

He turns 90 years old today.

-Happy birthday to me!

[ Cheers and applause ] This celebration is all about the love of music, the love of storytelling, and the love of Willie Nelson.

-A god walking among us mere mortals.

-Willie defies definition.

His energy is contagious.

-He simply follows spirit.

-Willie is a rebel.

-Standing here tonight, the Hollywood Bowl, it seems like there still isn't anything bigger than Willie Nelson.

-I love you, Willie.

Happy birthday.

-Happy birthday, Willie.

We love you.

-Willie, happy birthday!

-Happy birthday, Dad.

-Whoo!

-Willie is timeless.

-It's Willie Nelson's 90th Birthday Celebration.

-Let's sing one.

[ Cheers and applause ] Ladies and gentlemen, Billy Strings.

- Whiskey River, take my mind Don't let her mem'ry torture me Whiskey River, don't run dry You're all I've got to take care of me Whiskey River, take my mind Don't let her mem'ry torture me Whiskey river, don't run dry You're all I've got to take care of me I am drowning in a whiskey river Bathing my mem'ried mind in the wetness of its soul I'm feeling the amber current flowin' from my mind And leaving a heart you left so cold Whiskey River, take my mind Don't let her mem'ry torture me Whiskey River, don't run dry You're all I've got to take care of me I said I am drowning in a whiskey river Bathing my mem'ried mind in the wetness of its soul I'm feeling the amber current flowin' from my mind And leaving a heart you left so cold Whiskey River, take my mind Don't let her mem'ry torture me Whiskey River, don't run dry You're all I've got to take care of me Hey, now, whiskey river, take my mind Don't let her mem'ry torture me Whiskey River, don't run dry You're all I've got to take care of me [ Song ends ] Happy birthday, Willie!

Whoo!

[ Cheers and applause ] -Please welcome Norah Jones and Allison Russell.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Willie, thanks for always bringing people together.

It's a true gift.

We love you.

- He looked down into her brown eyes And said say a prayer for me She threw her arms around him Whispered, "God will keep us free" They could hear the riders comin' He said, this is my last fight If they take me back to Texas, they won't take me back alive There were seven Spanish Angels At the Altar of the Sun They were prayin' for the lovers In the Valley of the Gun When the battle stopped and the smoke cleared There was thunder from the throne And seven Spanish Angels Took another angel home - She reached down and picked the gun up That lay smokin' in his hand She said, "Father, please forgive me I can't make it without my man" She knew the gun was empty And she knew she couldn't win But her final prayer was answered When the rifles fired again There were seven Spanish Angels At the Altar of the Sun They were prayin' for the lovers In the Valley of the Gun When the battle stopped and the smoke cleared There was thunder from the throne And seven Spanish Angels Took another angel home There were seven Spanish Angels At the Altar of the Sun They were prayin' for the lovers In the Valley of the Gun Well, well, well When the battle stopped and the smoke cleared There was thunder from the throne Seven Spanish Angels Took another angel home Seven Spanish Angels Took another angel Home [ Cheers and applause ] -Norah Jones, everybody!

-Allison Russell!

-We love you, Willie.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Please welcome Dame Helen Mirren.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Willie's musical world is vast.

The sheer number and variety of artists he has touched is remarkable.

He bends and blends genres.

He ignores categories.

His timing is his own.

He simply follows spirit wherever spirit leads.

Tonight, spirit has led another singular artist, Beck, to sing a song from Willie's iconic album, "The Red-Headed Stranger."

[ Cheers and applause ] -Good evening.

[ Cheers and applause continues ] Happy birthday, Willie.

[ Cheers and applause ] At a time when the world seems to be spinnin' Hopelessly out of control There's deceivers and believers And old in-betweeners That seem to have no place to go Well, it's the same old song It's right and it's wrong And livin' is just somethin' I do And with no place to hide, I looked in your eyes And I've found myself in you Well, I looked to the stars, tried all of the bars And I've nearly gone up in smoke Now my hand's on the wheel Of something that's real And I feel like I'm goin' home In the shade of an oak down by the river Sat an old man and a boy Settin' sail, spinnin' tales, and fishin' for whales With a lady that they both enjoy Well, it's the same damn tune It's the man in the moon It's the way that I feel about you And with no place to hide, I looked in your eyes And I've found myself in you And I looked to the stars, tried all of the bars And I've nearly gone up in smoke Now my hand's on the wheel Of something that's real And I feel like I'm goin' home And I looked to the stars, tried all of the bars And I've nearly gone up in smoke Now my hand's on the wheel Of something that's real And I feel like I'm goin' home [ Cheers and applause ] Love y'all.

Love you, Willie.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Ladies and gentlemen, Sheryl Crow.

[ Cheers and applause ] -What a night.

[ Cheers and applause ] 27 years ago, I was getting ready to go out on stage with Willie Nelson and sing with him at the Beacon Theatre.

And I'm standing in the wings, and I'm terrified, and Kris Kristofferson is standing next to me, and he says, "Don't try to sing with him, just sing louder than him."

[ Laughter ] I've had a lot of great experiences through the years with Willie, and I've always told him he's my favorite person to sing with on the planet, whether I'm getting to sing with him on stage or singing with him on the radio or in my AirPods.

He's also the only person that's ever offered my dad a joint.

[ Laughter ] And that, for me, was worth the 30 years.

So I'm going to sing you one of the greatest songs that was ever written.

[ Cheers and applause ] I'm crazy Crazy for feeling so lonely I'm crazy Crazy for feeling so blue I knew that you'd love me as long as you wanted And then someday You'd leave me for somebody new Worry Why do I let myself worry?

Wondering what in the world did I do?

Oh, I'm crazy For thinking that my love could hold you I'm crazy for trying And I'm crazy for crying And I'm crazy for loving you I'm crazy For thinking that my love could hold you I'm crazy for trying and I'm crazy for crying And I'm crazy for loving you [ Cheers and applause ] -One of the great artists in American music, Chris Stapleton.

[ Cheers and applause ] - Maybe I didn't love you Quite as often as I could have And maybe I didn't treat you Quite as good as I should have If I made you feel second best Girl, I'm sorry I was blind But you were always on my mind You were always on my mind Maybe I didn't hold you All those lonely, lonely times And I guess I never told you I'm so happy that you're mine Little things I should have said and done I just never took the time But you were always on my mind You were always on my mind Tell me Tell me that your sweet love hasn't died And give me Give me one more chance to keep you satisfied I'll keep you satisfied Little things I should have said and done I just never took the time But you were always on my mind You were always on my mind You were always on my mind You were always on my mind [ Cheers and applause ] Happy birthday, Willie.

We love you.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Ethan Hawke.

-It is now my honor to introduce one of the most acclaimed singer-songwriters of our time.

She is the first daughter of The Highwaymen, John, Waylon, Willie and Kris, and she's here to sing one of Kris's most beloved songs.

Please welcome Rosanne Cash!

[ Cheers and applause ] - I have seen the morning burning golden On the mountain in the skies Aching with the feeling Of the freedom of an eagle when she flies Turning all my world away You smiled upon my soul as I lay dying And healing as the colors in the sunshine And the shadows of your eyes [ Cheers and applause ] Waking in the morning to the feeling Of fingers on my skin Wiping out the traces of the people And the places that I've been Teaching me that yesterday was something That I never thought of trying Talking of tomorrow and the money Love and time we had to spend And loving you is easier Than anything I'll ever do again Coming close together with a feeling That I've never known before in my time You ain't ashamed to be a man Or afraid to be a friend I don't know the answers to the easy way He's opens every door in my mind Dreaming is as easy As believing it was never gonna end Loving you is easier Than anything I'll ever do again Loving you is easier Than anything I'll ever do again [ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] Kris Kristofferson!

[ Cheers and applause ] -On a legendary night where a legendary artist is being lionized by artists who are legends themselves, here is Dave Matthews!

[ Cheers and applause ] -Hello.

The first time that -- that I met Willie was in -- I think it was '94 at Farm Aid.

So it's nearly 30 years ago.

And after we played, we all got on his bus, and he proceeded to light a lot of marijuana, and then we smoked, and, you know, we just kept on smoking.

And when I thought it couldn't go on any longer, it hadn't even begun.

And then, at some point, when I was too far gone, he said, "Is everybody high?"

[ Laughter ] But my mom has a photo from that visit on his bus, and she -- she loves Willie Nelson.

And so she's got it on her mantle at home because she's so proud of me for that, and... [ Laughter ] ...and I look so high.

It's just... [ Laughter ] Just barely can see.

Anyway, thank you.

[ Cheers and applause ] Well, hello, there My, it's been a long, long time How am I doing?

Well, I guess I'm doing fine But it's been so long But it seems like it was only yesterday Ain't it funny how time slips away?

How's your new love?

Well, I hope he's doing fine I heard you told him You'd love him till the end of time Now, that's the same thing you told me It seems like just the other day Ain't it funny how time slips away?

I got to go now Well, I guess I'll see you around I don't know when, though Don't know when I'll be back in town But remember what I tell you 'Cause in time, you're gonna pay It's surprising how time slips away Yeah, remember what I tell you 'Cause in time, you're gonna pay It's surprising how time slips away Yeah, ain't it funny How time slips away I love you, Willie.

Thank you so much, everybody.

Happy birthday.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Please welcome Jamey Johnson, Warren Haynes, and the legendary Booker T. Jones.

[ Cheers and applause ] - Georgia Georgia The whole day through Just an old sweet song Keeps Georgia on my mind Georgia Oh, Georgia A song of you Comes as sweet and clear As moonlight through the pines Other arms reach out to me Other eyes smile tenderly Still in peaceful dreams I see The road leads back to you Well, now, Georgia Georgia No peace I find Just an old sweet song Keeps Georgia on my mind Other arms reach out to me Other eyes smile tenderly Still in peaceful dreams I see The road, it just keeps on leading back to you Well, now, Georgia Georgia No peace I find Just an old, sweet song Keeps Georgia On my mind Just an old sweet Sweet song [ Cheers and applause ] Keeps Georgia on my mind On my mind On my mind On my mind Yeah [ Cheers and applause ] -Ladies and gentlemen, Jennifer Garner.

-When this next artist was asked what she'd like to sing, she said, "I want to pay homage to Willie the Cowboy."

So she's singing a song made famous by the movie "Electric Horseman," that launched Willie's acting career.

Here is the marvelous, spectacular, incredible Miranda Lambert!

[ Cheers and applause ] -Hey, y'all!

This is my cheers to our cowboy Willie Nelson tonight.

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys Don't let 'em pick guitars or drive them old trucks Let 'em be doctors and lawyers and such Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys 'Cause they'll never stay home, they're always alone Even with someone they love Cowboys ain't easy to love And they're harder to hold And they'd rather give you a song Than diamonds or gold Lonestar belt buckles and old faded Levis And each night begins a new day If you don't understand him and he don't die young He'll probably just ride away Come on!

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys Don't let 'em pick guitars or drive them old trucks Make 'em be doctors and lawyers and such Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys 'Cause they'll never stay home and they're always alone Even with someone they love Cowboys like smoky old pool rooms And clear mountain mornings Little warm puppies and children And girls of the night Them that don't know him Won't like him, and them that do Sometimes won't know how to take him He ain't wrong, he's just different But his pride won't let him Do things to make you think he's right Y'all sing with me!

Come on!

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys Don't let 'em pick guitars or drive them old trucks Make 'em be doctors and lawyers and such Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys 'Cause they'll never stay home and they're always alone Even with someone they love 'Cause they'll never stay home and they're always alone Even with someone they love Ah-ha!

We love y'all!

We love you, Willie!

Happy birthday!

[ Cheers and applause ] -Welcome back Helen Mirren.

-Well, I do feel so fortunate to be a part of these festivities and especially fortunate to present our next artist.

Like Willie, he continues to perform with the energy of someone half his age.

It is my distinct honor to introduce Sir Thomas Jones Woodward.

Yeah!

Tom Jones!

[ Cheers and applause ] -Thank you.

[ Cheers and applause ] Helen Mirren.

Whoa!

[ Cheers and applause ] Okay, so, ladies and gentlemen, I would just like to say that it's great to be here tonight.

[ Cheers and applause ] For Willie, 90 years old.

Wow.

I'm only 83 myself, so, you know, I've got something to look forward to, right?

[ Cheers and applause ] No, but, really, Willie is a fantastic person.

First of all, he's a great songwriter, and I've recorded a number of Willie's songs, so this one that we're gonna do tonight is one of them.

And, uh, I hope he likes it.

[ Laughter ] Just watch the sunrise On the other side of town Once more I've waited And once more, you let me down This would be a perfect time for me to die So I'd like to take this opportunity to cry You gave your word Now I return it to you With this suggestion as to what you should do Just exchange the words "I love you" To "goodbye" While I take this opportunity to cry I'd like to see you, but I'm afraid I don't know wrong from right If I saw you, would I kiss you Or want to kill you on sight It's been a long time, so I think I'll go home And feed my nightmares They've been waiting all night long They'll be the last ones to tell me goodbye They'll give me many opportunities to cry [ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] -Please welcome Owen Wilson.

[ Cheers and applause ] -How's it going?

As a kid growing up in Texas, there really wasn't anything bigger than Willie Nelson.

And now, standing here tonight at the Hollywood Bowl, looking at this crowd, it seems like there still isn't anything bigger than Willie Nelson.

[ Cheers and applause ] Happy birthday, Willie, and thank you for inspiring us to always take the high road, and I mean the high road.

Like, way high.

Anyway, please welcome Gary Clark Jr. [ Cheers and applause ] -How we doing?

[ Cheers and applause ] I'ma do this next one for Willie and for his old pal Stevie Ray Vaughan.

[ Cheers and applause ] Well, there's floodin' down in Texas All the telephone lines are down Well, there's floodin' down in Texas All the telephone lines are down Well, I've been tryin' to call my baby Lord, I can't get a single sound Well, dark clouds rollin' in Man, I'm standin' out in the rain I said dark clouds rollin' by Man, I'm standin' out in the rain Flood water keep a rollin' Man, it's about to drive poor me insane Well, I'm leavin' you, baby Lord, and I'm goin' back home to stay Well, I'm leavin' you, baby Lord, I'm goin' back home to stay Well, there ain't no floods or tornadoes Baby, the sun shines every day [ Cheers and applause ] -Thank you so much.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Please welcome Lukas Nelson.

[ Cheers and applause ] If you had not a-fallen [ Cheers and applause ] I would not have found you Angel flying too close to the ground I patched up your broken wings And I hung around a while Trying to keep your spirits up And your fever down I knew someday That you would fly away For love is the greatest healer to be found So leave me if you need to I will still remember Angel flying too close to the ground Fly on, fly on Past the speed of sound And I'd rather see you up than see you down So leave me if you need to I will still remember Angel flying too close to the ground So leave me if you need to I will still remember Angel flying too close To the ground [ Cheers and applause ] -Happy birthday, Dad.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Ladies and gentlemen, Woody Harrelson.

[ Cheers and applause ] -He is not just one of the greatest songwriters who has ever lived.

He is a great humanitarian.

What he's done for farmers, for biodiesel, and for our blessed Saint Mary Jane inspires many.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Chuckles ] In the last year, he made three albums, wrote his ninth book, toured 73 cities, and won three Grammys.

[ Cheers and applause ] And in that time, all I accomplished was to smoke 420 pounds of pot.

[ Laughter ] To the greatest Texan who ever lived, maybe the greatest human who ever lived, a god walking among us mere mortals, Owen Wilson.

Hold it.

How did Owen get ahold of the teleprompter?

What?

No.

Ladies and gents, brothers and sisters, the man who needs no introductio-- [ Laughs ] Willie Nelson!

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] -Welcome back Sheryl Crow.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Hey.

How you doing?

[ Chuckles ] - It's somebody's birthday -Ah.

Thank you.

Are you ready to sing one?

-I'm ready.

[ Laughter ] Those far away places With strange-soundin' names Far away over the sea And the far away places With the strange-soundin' names Are callin' Callin' me - I'm goin' to China -Please do.

- Or maybe Siam I want to see for myself Those far away places I've been readin' about In a book that I took from a shelf I keep wishing I was somewhere else - Waiting on a train - And I pray for the day I can get underway And I search for those castles in Spain - I keep wishin' I was somewhere else Waiting on a train And I pray for the day I can get underway - And search for those castles in Spain - They call me a dreamer Well, maybe I am But I know that I'm longin' to see - Those far away places With the strange-soundin' names Callin' - Callin' - Callin' - Callin' - Me Callin' Callin' me [ Cheers and applause ] -Willie Nelson!

[ Cheers and applause ] -Sheryl!

I love you.

[ Cheers and applause ] I love you.

-I love you.

-I love you.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Please welcome George Strait.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Hey, George!

-Hey, Willie!

[ Cheers and applause ] Happy birthday, Willie.

So, I want to do this song because it's such a great song and -- and Townes Van Zandt wrote it, and Willie sang it with Merle, and, uh...

It's called "Pancho and Lefty."

-"Pancho and Lefty."

All right.

Living on the road, my friend Was gonna keep you free and clean Now you wear your skin like iron And your breath as hard as kerosene Weren't your mama's only boy But her favorite one, it seems But she began to cry when you said goodbye And sank into your dreams - Pancho was a bandit boy His horse was fast as polished steel He wore his gun outside his pants For all the honest world to feel Pancho met his match, you know On the deserts down in Mexico Nobody heard his dying words But that's the way it goes All the Federales say They could have had him any day They only let him slip away Out of kindness, I suppose - Lefty, he can't sing the blues All night long like he used to The dust that Pancho bit down south Ended up in Lefty's mouth The day they laid poor Pancho low Lefty split for Ohio Where he got the bread to go There ain't nobody knows All the Federales say They could have had him any day We only let him slip away Out of kindness, I suppose Poets tell how Pancho fell And Lefty's living in a cheap hotel The desert's quiet, and Cleveland's cold And so the story ends, we're told Pancho needs your prayers, it's true But save a few for Lefty, too He only did what he had to do Now he's growing old All the Federales say They could've had him any day They only let him slip away Out of kindness, I suppose A few gray Federales say They could've had him any day We only let him go so long Out of kindness, I suppose [ Cheers and applause ] -Thank you all.

Thank you, George.

[ Cheers and applause ] Hey, Snoop, come out here and help me roll one up.

-Anything for you, Willie.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Hey, pal.

-Happy birthday, brother.

-What key we doing this in?

-Can we do it in they key of smoke?

[ Laughter ] - Roll me up and smoke me when I die And if anyone don't like it, just look 'em in the eye I didn't come here, and I ain't leavin' So don't sit around and cry Just roll me up and smoke me when I die You won't see no sad and teary eyes When I get my wings and it's my time to fly - Call my friends and tell 'em There's a party going by So just roll me up and smoke me when I die Come on, y'all!

- Roll me up and smoke me when I die And if anyone don't like it, just look them in the eye - I didn't come here, and I ain't leavin' So don't sit around and cry Just roll me up and smoke me when I die -Mickey!

Is that Mickey?!

Ay!

Slick Mick!

It's a beautiful night tonight.

Somebody make some noise for the legend, Mr. Willie Nelson!

[ Cheers and applause ] Anybody out there smoking tonight?

[ Cheers and applause ] Roll one for Mr. Nelson.

Roll me up and smoke me when I die If anyone don't like it, just look them in the eye So just roll me up and smoke me when I die - Take me out and build a roaring fire Roll me in the flames for about an hour Take me out and twist me up Point me towards the sky -Yes.

- Roll me up and smoke me when I die Come on, y'all!

Roll me up and smoke me when I die And if anyone don't like it, just look 'em in the eye I didn't come here, and I ain't leavin' So don't sit around and cry Just roll me up and smoke me when I die - I didn't come here, and I ain't leavin' So don't sit around and cry Just roll me up and smoke me when I die [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you, Snoop.

-Thank you, Willie!

[ Cheers and applause ] I love you, brother.

-I love you, too.

Heck of a deal.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Ladies and gentlemen, the iconic Keith Richards.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] -Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

It's good to be here.

It's good to be anywhere.

Ready to go, Willie?

-Let's do it, yeah.

I can hear the wind blowing in my mind Just the way it used to Through the Georgia pines And you were there to answer when I called You and me, we had it all - Remember how I used to touch your hair?

Reaching for the feeling That was always there You were there to answer when I called You and me, we had it all - I know that we can never live those times again So I let my dreams take me back To where we have been Then I'll stay with you, girl, just as long as I can Oh, it was so good Yeah, it was so good Yes, it was so good when I was your man - I'll never stop believing in your smile Even though you didn't stay It was all worthwhile You were there to answer when I called Yeah, you and me, we had it all - You and me, darlin' We had it all [ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] On the road again I can't wait to get on the road again The life I love is making music with my friends I can't wait to get on the road again On the road again Goin' places that I've never been Seein' things that I may never see again And I can't wait to get on the road again Everybody sing!

On the road again Like a band o' gypsies, we go down the highway We're the best of friends Insisting that the world keep turning our way And our way On the road again I can't wait to get on the road again The life I love is makin' music with my friends And I can't wait to get on the road again On the road again Like a band o' gypsies, we go down the highway We're the best of friends Insisting that the world keep turning our way And our way Is on the road again I can't wait to get on the road again The life I love is makin' music with my friends And I can't wait to get on the road again I can't wait to get on the road again - I can't wait to get on the road again [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you very much.

-We got just one more song.

I think you know how it goes.

- Happy birthday to me - Happy birthday to you Happy birthday, dear Willie Happy birthday to you [ Cheers and applause ] -Thank all y'all!

Thank you very much.

Thank you all.

We love you.

Thank you.

Thank you all very much.

Remember, same time tomorrow night.

[ Laughter ] [ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause ]