Renowned country music icon Willie Nelson recently shared a concerning health incident he faced while on tour with his band. At the age of 90, Nelson continues to tour the United States with the Nelson Family band, showcasing his enduring commitment to his musical craft.
During a tour last year, he made the challenging decision to cancel the band’s Jazz Fest headlining gig upon discovering that a member of the Willie Nelson Family Band had tested positive for COVID-19. Surprisingly, it was later revealed that it was actually Nelson himself who had contracted the virus.
A Terrifying Ordeal
Awakening in the middle of the night on his tour bus struggling to breathe, Nelson faced a frightening ordeal. His fears were confirmed through a rapid PCR test – he had indeed contracted COVID-19. Given his age, the gravity of the situation increased due to his vulnerability to the virus.
To aid in his recovery, Willie’s wife, Annie, shared the measures they implemented. “I had a nebulizer on the bus. I started everything I could at that point, including Paxlovid. He had the monoclonal antibodies. He had steroids,” she told Country Music Television. They ended up transforming their home in Spicewood, Texas into a makeshift hospital, enlisting an entire medical unit to monitor his recovery.
Walking a Tightrope
Recounting this stressful turn of events, Annie admitted that there were many moments where she was unsure, saying: “There were a couple of times when I wasn’t sure he was going to make it.” The road to recovery was difficult, but after six days, Nelson had mustered up the strength to return to the stage. Just two weeks later, he resumed his touring schedule with shows in New Braunfels, Texas.
Laughter in the Face of Adversity
Despite the harrowing experience, Nelson maintained his trademark wit, stating at the time: “COVID ain’t nothing to laugh at, that’s for sure.”
After the shocking COVID scare, Willie Nelson and his Family Band continued touring, attending the Farm Aid 2022 Music Festival in Raleigh, North Carolina in September. A stellar lineup of artists joined him on stage, including John Mellencamp, Margo Price, Chris Stapleton, and Sheryl Crow, among others.
