Willie Nelson joined Chris Stapleton for an ACL Fest ride on the 'Whiskey River' Friday
It was Willie City Limits on Friday night as the Red-Headed Stranger joined Chris Stapleton on a ride down the "Whiskey River" at the top of the country soul crooner's headlining set at the Austin City Limits Music Festival on Friday.
Willie Nelson, 91, the greatest songwriter and guitar picker who ever launched a career from Austin's club scene, sat onstage by Stapleton, his trusty acoustic guitar Trigger on his lap. The two sang a spirited duet of Willie's standard concert opener while the city's skyline twinkled in the distance.
Willie released "Whiskey River" on his 1973 album, "Shotgun Willie." It was the first album he made after he left Nashville for Austin. Away from the buttoned up ethos of the slick Music City industry machine and in amongst a bunch of long-hairs and weirdos, the 40-year-old artist and early cannabis activist found himself. He went on to record some of the greatest music of his career.
Willie Nelson is in town for the 50th anniversary of 'Austin City Limits'
This is definitely the season to reminisce on the ways that Willie reshaped our city and his relationship to "Austin City Limits." He is in town to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the date he taped the first episode of the festival's namesake television show on Oct. 17, 1974. "ACL" will celebrate will a big party on the Long Center Lawn next week. Free tickets to the public were assigned via lottery and for music fans who missed out on passes, there will be a livestream that kicks off at 7 p.m. at aclturns50.com.
Willie and Stapleton toured together on the Outlaw Country Music Tour
Stapleton and Nelson are old song-swapping buds. Stapleton has appeared at Willie's Fourth of July Picnic multiple times and the two have toured together on the Outlaw Country Music Tour. Stapleton also appeared at Willie Nelson's 90th birthday bash at the Hollywood Bowl last year.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Willie Nelson joined Chris Stapleton at ACL Fest Friday
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