Willie Nelson News

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) announced complete casting today for the world premiere of the new play COAL COUNTRY, written by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen with original music by Steve Earle. Directed by Jessica Blank, this riveting new work will begin performances in the Anspacher Theater with a Joseph Papp Free Preview performance on Tuesday, February 18. COAL COUNTRY will run through Sunday, March 29, with an official press opening on Tuesday, March 3.

To commemorate the final season of The Ranch, Netflix has partnered with Curb Records for the release of The Ranch (A Netflix Original Series Official Soundtrack). 

MerleFest, presented by Window World, is proud to announce the next round of artist additions for MerleFest 2020, which will be held April 23-26. John Prine, Billy Strings, Colin Hay, Kelsey Waldon, and Gangstagrass will be joining the annual homecoming of musicians and music fans on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Time Is Here is a lushly orchestrated album produced by six-time Grammy award winner Brent Maher. Maher is Nashville based and has worked with everyone from Elvis to Willie Nelson to The Judds. In fact he discovered The Judds. Time Is Here is like those old school records – think Andy Williams – it has a little something for everyone: the title track is the Vince Guaraldi theme from “A Charlie Brown ;” Charleene reinterpreted the classic hymn “Ave Maria” and recorded it with the Boys' Choir of Sofia (Bulgaria); and there is the spirited carol that celebrates her Irish-American heritage, “ in Killarney.”

Chris Stapleton will be the subject of a new exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum—set to open June 26, 2020.

Mark Mackay discovers that the sun always shines after a rainy day with a song inspired by his best friend's struggles and cancer diagnoses. He penned ​Always Rains in Portland as crucial reminder to focus on the daily blessings and bright moments, despite it being easy to drown in life's hardships. An ode to solace, Mark Mackay will release Always Rains in Portland this Friday, December 6.

The Wittliff Collections, an internationally acclaimed collection of Southwest writing, photography, film and music, will host its festival debut on April 18, 2020, in Austin, Texas, with a one-day event celebrating the unbridled imagination of Texas, Mexico and the Southwest.

Eisemann Center Presents Riders In The Sky with The Quebe Sisters in Christmas the Cowboy Way at the Eisemann Center, 2351 Performance Drive in Richardson, Texas on Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at 7:30 pm in the Hill Performance Hall. 42 years ago, Ranger Doug, Too Slim and the late Windy Bill Collins played that first date on the bitter cold evening of November 11th, 1977 at Herr Harry's Frank N' Stein Rathskeller in Nashville, and small listening room dates followed. By August of the following year demand was building, and while Windy Bill left, Woody Paul joined, and the true professional beginnings of the band began at the Kentucky State Fair, where the trio played 10 days for $2500 and bought their own rooms and meals out of that!

Bob Weir and Wolf Bros announce five nights at the iconic Sweetwater Music Hall this February, including a special Valentine's Day show with ticket holders receiving a surprise gift at the venue. Purchase tickets HERE. The storied venue, which is located in downtown Mill Valley just north of San Francisco, opened in 1972 and has seen some of music's biggest stars throughout the years including Weir, Elvis Costello, Etta James, Carlos Santana, Jerry Garcia, Gregg Allman, Huey Lewis and more.

City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph Street, announces world-renowned violinist Damien Escobar, American Idol runner-up David Archuleta, three-time Grammy winner Taj Mahal, and more. The following shows go on sale to the public on Friday, December 6 at noon. Tickets will be available at citywinery.com/chicago.

Critically-acclaimed jazz singer Gabrielle Stravelli will be stepping in for the Broadway star for two nights. She will be joined by guitarist Paul Bollenback tonight (Tuesday, 11/26) and pianist Michael Kanan tomorrow (Wednesday, 11/27). Shows will take place at 7pm.

The Country Music Association will honor Conway Entertainment Group/Ontourage Management founder/owner Tony Conway with its 2019 CMA Touring Lifetime Achievement Award. Conway received the news during last week's CMA Board of Directors meeting in Nashville, where he received a standing ovation from Board members and CMA staff.  

A friend let me know that Thursday's performance of 'Always. . .Patsy Cline' had been canceled due to the illness of its star, Debra Wagoner. Wagoner played the crossover hit maker for Virginia Rep in 2012, and for the Ohio Shakespeare Festival in 2006. I feared there would be a cancellation Friday night as well.

BroadwayWorld Critics' Pick and StageSceneLA Award-winner Scott Dreier, star of last season's acclaimed hit Doris and Me, will return to The Colony Theatre in Burbank with his holiday concert, The Merry Little Christmas Show, for two performances only. Along with special guest Kurtis Simmons and music director Andy Langham, Dreier will perform on Sunday, December 15, at 3pm and 6pm.

The TEN Tenors are bringing back their highly acclaimed show Home for the Holidays, after numerous hugely successful tours of the U.S. The ensemble will once again spread holiday cheer at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Sunday, December 22 at 7 p.m., performing a lively mix of holiday favorites featuring everything from a?oeFeliz Navidada?? and a?oeO Holy Nighta?? to a?oeWinter Wonderlanda?? and even a?oeBohemian Rhapsodya?? all with their signature flair, 10-part harmonies and smooth choreography.

Steven John Simon, rising country artist released his debut EP 'Story To Tell' for pre-order on November 15th. Steven John Simon's debut EP rounds out his first full year as a new country artist. The Debut EP will be released on December 13th 2019.  The EP 'Story To Tell' is composed of five tracks including his first release Tongue Tied written by Brenda Kornblum which debuted at #68 on iTunes.  Next on the EP play list is Eyes Closed written by Bryce Mauldin and Casey Carpenter followed by Life Is Good written by John Spears. The Title Track Story to Tell written by Rob Carona was pitched to Heart Songs Records by Carona. This song had a lot of personal meaning to me so finding the right artist to 'tell the story' was important. Steven Simon's true country vocal and his authentic delivery was so great to hear.' - Rob Carona, Songwriter

Recording Academy® President/CEO Deborah Dugan alongside Academy Chair of the Board of Trustees and renowned record producer Harvey Mason Jr., as well as GRAMMY Awards® host Alicia Keys and past two-time GRAMMY® nominee Bebe Rexha, today revealed nominees for the 62nd GRAMMY Awards in select categories. This year's nominees reflect a melting pot of artistic innovation that defined the year in music, showcasing the unparalleled craftsmanship of established artists and the industry-shifting impact of rising music creators. Leading nominees Lizzo (8), Billie Eilish (6) and Lil Nas X (6) not only topped the charts but ignited a cultural conversation around their genre-bending hits. As the only peer-selected music award, the GRAMMY Awards are voted on by the Recoding Academy's membership body of music makers, who represent all genres and creative disciplines, including recording artists, songwriters, producers, mixers and engineers.

On loan from Brooklyn rock band The Slim Kings, singer/songwriter/guitarist Michael Sackler-Berner's new video does not rock. It doesn't folk-rock either, as fans of his solo work might expect - it swings. In MSB's dreams, it's Bennett, Sinatra, or Martin, but there's a punk side to the track because he's not a crooner by trade. It is tailor-made for people who think Bublé is cheese, but dig young gents singing and writing tunes for Big Band. Pop and jazz fans alike will latch onto this “Autumn in New York” release by the Big Apple native.

“I Think About You” is a country sing-along upbeat Christmas song about not being with someone you love during the holidays. And soon to be a Christmas favorite.

The McCallum Theatre presents The Highwaymen a?" A Musical Tribute featuring Waylon, Willie and Johnny on Sunday, November 24, at 3:00 pm. Perhaps the greatest super-group in country music history, the original Highwaymen, formed in 1985 and consisted of Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash. This recreation of that amazing band continues the legacy with tributes to Waylon, Willie and Johnny. You will see the friendship and comradery that existed between these legends, reliving great moments in country music history. Combining their unique approaches to life and recording, they traveled the world performing country music to millions of fans.