On Jan. 12 in Nashville, Willie Nelson led an all-star lineup of musicians for “Willie: The Life & Songs of an American Outlaw,” a one-night-only event that featured Steve Earle, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, George Strait, Jimmy Buffett, Dave Matthews, Margo Price, Chris Stapleton, The Avett Brothers, Nathaniel Rateliff,  Alison Krauss, Sturgill Simpson and many more.

The evening began with Stapleton taking on the rollicking “Whiskey River” and Lee Ann Womack covering Nelson’s early tune “Three Days.”

A visibly pregnant Margo Price offered up “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” with Bobby Bare and stayed onstage to perform “Sisters Coming Home/Down at the Corner Beer Joint” with Steve Earle.

Willie’s sons Lukas and Micah then took the stage to pay homage to their father. The two Nelson boys jammed through “I Thought About You Lord”> “Just As I Am”> “Time of the Preacher”> “Bandera”> “Hands on the Wheel,” making Willie proud to have two talented musicians carry on his legacy.

Jason Isbell and Nathaniel Rateliff stopped by for one-offs of “Milk Cow Blues” and “A Song for You” respectively, followed by a take on “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys” by Lyle Lovett. Lovett stuck around to play “Shotgun Willie” with Ray Benson, and made way for Alison Krauss to sing “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground.” Lauded songwriter Vince Gill was next onstage with a take on Roy Acuff’s “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.”

Jamey Johnson offered a cover of “Georgia On My Mind,” and he was followed by jam scene regulars Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi who performed “Somebody Pick Up My Pieces.”

Finally, for the last song of set one, Willie Nelson strapped on his guitar to perform. The guest of honor played with Tedeschi and Trucks on “City of New Orleans” to close the first half.

By set two Willie was warmed up and ready to rock, but not after quick interludes by The Avett Brothers (“Bloody Mary Morning,” “Willie Got There First”), Norah Jones & The Little Willies (“Remember Me,” “I Gotta Get Drunk”), Jack Johnson (“Willie Got Me Stoned”), Sturgill Simpson (“Red Headed Rounder”), Eric Church (“Me and Paul”) and John Mellencamp (“Night Life”).

Dave Matthews was next to take the spotlight, performing Nelson’s tune “Funny How Time Slips Away” (made famous by Billy Walker), and finally welcoming Willie out ontage for a collaborative take on “Crazy.”

Afterwards, Nelson sang “After the Fire is Gone” with Sheryl Crow, the duo embodying original performers Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty.

Emmylou Harris was the next to share the stage with Nelson, singing “Pancho and Lefty,” and Rodney Crowell quickly made the duo a trio on “‘Til I Gain Control Again.”

After appearances by Kris Kristofferson and Nelson’s longtime pal Jimmy Buffett, Nelson invited Stapleton and Trucks onstage for a beautiful version of “Always On My Mind.”

Amazingly, one of the biggest highlights (in an evening full of highlights) came with the appearance of country icon George Strait, who had never performed with Nelson before.

“You just made my career” Strait said from the stage. In classic fashion, Nelson quickly replied, “Or ruined it.”

The duo closed the second set with Strait’s tune “Sing One With Willie,” which was written for the occasion, and the Waylon Jennings classic “Good Hearted Woman.”

Nelson encored an astonishing career retrospective with a slew of memorable tunes, starting with “On The Road Again” and working through “May The Circle Be Unbroken” and “I’ll Fly Away.”

Appropriately, the vibrant, always-self-effacing Nelson closed the show with “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die.”

Check out some video highlights and the full setlist below:

Willie Nelson: The Life & Songs of an American Outlaw
Jan. 12, 2019
Bridgestone Arena, Nashville

Set I: Whiskey River[1], Three Days[2], Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys[3], Sisters Coming Home/Down at the Corner Beer Joint[4], I Thought About You Lord [5]> Just As I Am [5]> Time of the Preacher [5]> Bandera[5]> Hands on the Wheel[5], Milk Cow Blues[6], A Song for You [7], My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys [8], Shotgun Willie [9], Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground [10], Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain [11], Georgia on my Mind [12], Somebody Pick Up My Pieces [13], City of New Orleans [14]

Set II: Bloody Mary Morning [15], Willie Got There First [15], Remember Me [16], I Gotta Get Drunk [16], Willie Got Me Stoned [17], Red Headed Rounder [18], Me and Paul [19], Night Life [20], Funny How It Slips Away [21], Crazy [22], After The Fire is Gone [23], Pancho and Lefty [24], ‘Til I Gain Control Again [25], Me and Bobby McGee[26], The Harder They Come[27], Always On My Mind[28], Sing One With Willie[29], Good Hearted Woman [29]

Enc: On The Road Again> May The Circle Be Unbroken> I’ll Fly Away, Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die

Notes:
[1] Chris Stapleton
[2] Lee Ann Womack
[3] Margo Price and Bobby Bare
[4] Margo Price and Steve Earle
[5] Lukas Nelson and Micah Nelson
[6] Jason Isbell
[7] Nathaniel Rateliff
[8] Lyle Lovett
[9] Lyle Lovett and Ray Benson
[10] Alison Krauss
[11] Vince Gill
[12] Jamey Johnson
[13] Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks
[14] Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks and Willie Nelson
[15] The Avett Brothers
[16] Norah Jones and the Little Willies
[17] Jack Johnson
[18] Sturgill Simpson
[19] Eric Church
[20] John Mellencamp
[21] Dave Matthews
[22] Dave Matthews and Willie Nelson
[23] Sheryl Crow and Willie Nelson
[24] Emmylou Harris and Willie Nelson
[25] Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris and Willie Nelson
[26] Kris Kristofferson, Eric Church and Willie Nelson
[27] Jimmy Buffett and Willie Nelson
[28] Chris Stapleton, Derek Trucks and Willie Nelson
[29] George Strait and Willie Nelson