In a throwback that's hitting all the right nostalgia notes, music legend Willie Nelson is gearing up to return to the stage that launched an iconic television series. KXAN reports that Nelson and his crew, known as Willie Nelson & Family, are poised to perform at a free concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of Austin City Limits (ACL), the longest-running music program on television—a program he inaugurated back on October 17, 1974. The concert, set for next month on the same date as the original taping, will also feature Austin's own Asleep at the Wheel and will be hosted at the Long Center.
Those looking to witness this monumental music happening need to register for a ticket lottery that opened this morning and will run through the evening of Monday, September 23. Selected individuals will receive notifications between September 26 and 27, as described by My San Antonio. And for those thinking of bringing anything more than a blanket to the picnic-style event—think again. No chairs are allowed on the Long Center lawn, ensuring a throwback to simpler concert experiences.
The highlight of the evening (besides Nelson's unmistakable voice and iconic braids) stands to be a taping that will later air as a special installment of Austin City Limits, set to broadcast on PBS early next year. "There’s a good reason why a bronze statue of Willie Nelson stands at the entrance to ACL’s studio home on the Austin street that bears his name," said an ACL press release, emphasizing the singer-songwriter's seminal influence on the series.
It's not just the Red-Headed Stranger who'll be taking a trip down memory lane; Asleep at the Wheel isn't a stranger to the ACL stage either. Not only have they racked up 11 performances on the show over its five prolific decades, but they also secured a spot in the ACL Hall of Fame back in 2015. As Austin City Limits gears up for its landmark Season 50, premiering on September 28 with Kacey Musgraves, fans are bracing for what promises to be an unforgettable celebration of the series' legacy—both on the stage and the screen. "There would be no Austin City Limits without Willie Nelson – simple as that," ACL executive producer Terry Lickona told KXAN, underlining Nelson's enduring impact.
If you're not in the mix for the live event, don't fret. The airing of the anticipated special, featuring these Texas legends, is slated to be a season highlight for the Golden Anniversary run of Austin City Limits. In short, Nelson's return is more than just a concert—it's the continuation of an enduring legacy that's as much a part of Austin as the skyline that serves as an ever-present backdrop to the enduring show. So whether from the lawn or your living room, the ACL 50th birthday bash is shaping up to be a heartfelt tip of the hat to the past, and a boot-tapping step into the program's future.
