Despite his easygoing, laid-back image, Willie Nelson might be the hardest-working man in country music. At 86, Nelson has enjoyed a career more than twice as long as some of today’s country stars have been alive, and he shows no signs of slowing down. Nelson’s most recent album, Ride Me Back Home, came out in June, following two albums released in 2018, and he’s been keeping that pace pretty much since the early 1960s. Ride Me Back Home debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s country charts, placing Nelson right alongside the genre’s hottest young performers.
Nelson has been just as relentless about touring as he has been about releasing albums, and even when occasional health problems have kept him off the road, he’s always bounced back quickly, making sure every fan who wants to see him has the chance to do so. Nelson’s upcoming Vegas dates mark the second time he’s played an extended run at The Venetian, and he’ll be joined onstage as usual by his son Micah. Micah and Lukas Nelson both have become regular collaborators with their dad even as they launch their own careers, and if they follow his example, they’ll be going strong for decades to come.
The Venetian, 8 p.m. Oct. 18-19, 22-23 & 25-26, starting at $59.95 plus tax and fee. 702.414.9000
