Last May, during a tour, Willie Nelson made the difficult decision to cancel their Jazz Fest Headlining Gig after discovering that a member of the Willie Nelson Family Band had tested positive for COVID-19. Surprisingly, it was later revealed that Willie himself was the one who contracted the virus.

In the middle of the night, Willie woke up on his tour bus struggling to breathe, a frightening experience for anyone. His rapid PCR test confirmed his worst fears – he had indeed contracted COVID-19. Given his age, Willie’s vulnerability to the virus added to the severity of the situation.

Willie’s wife, Anne Nelson, shared the measures they took to ensure his recovery. “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 revealed. Determined to provide the best care possible, they transformed their home in Spicewood, Texas into a makeshift hospital and enlisted an entire medical unit to monitor Willie’s health.

Reflecting on those challenging days, Anne recounted her moments of uncertainty, saying, “There were a couple of times when I wasn’t sure he was going to make it.” The road to recovery was not easy, but after six days, Willie emerged victorious, ready to return to the stage. Just two weeks later, he resumed his touring schedule with shows in New Braunfels, Texas.

Don’t miss the opportunity to witness Willie Nelson and his Family Band headlining the Farm Aid 2022 Music Festival in Raleigh, North Carolina on September 24. Joining him will be an incredible lineup of artists, including John Mellencamp, Margo Price, Chris Stapleton, and Sheryl Crow, among many others. Let’s come together to celebrate the power of music and the strength of the human spirit.