Photo by Stuart Levine

Willie Nelson has canceled his Sunday night headlining slot at Jazz Fest and postponed his upcoming performances after a member of his touring band tested positive for COVID-19.

He and the Family Band were scheduled to perform in Franklin, Tenn. last night and Brandon, Mo. tonight before Sunday’s headlining performance at Jazz Fest in New Orleans. Yesterday, the festival announced the vacated spot will be filled by the Zac Brown Band.

“Due to a positive Covid case in the Willie Nelson Family Band, the Franklin, TN show at the FirstBank Amphitheater tonight and the Brandon Amphitheater in Brandon, MS on May 7 will be postponed to June 17 in Brandon, MS and June 19 in Franklin, TN,” Nelson’s website shared. “Both postponed shows will feature the entire original line-up including Willie Nelson and Family, Charley Crockett and Drayton Farley.  The performance at the New Orleans Jazz Festival scheduled on May 8 will be canceled.”

Nelson’s tour will pick up again with a two-night stand in New Braunfels, Texas on May 27 and 28; those shows will and those that follow will go on as scheduled.

Nelson is not alone in artists who have had to cancel appearances in New Orleans due to COVID-19. Yesterday, George Porter Jr. shared he tested positive and canceled all his New Orleans shows. Melissa Etheridge also pulled out of her spot at Jazz Fest due to the virus; Mavis Staples will perform in her stead.