Willie Nelson Staggers Off Stage In Health Crisis

Willie Nelson has suffered yet another humiliating health crisis — once again abruptly walking offstage without making it through a song!

His May 26 concert in Charlotte, NC, began with Willie coming out onstage at the PNC Music Pavilion — before picking his guitar up, putting it down, and leaving the stage. Promoters said the show ended "due to illness," and that a new show would be scheduled.

Management blamed "a bad cold or the flu" for a San Diego show on Jan. 6 where Willie couldn't get started— and the venue merely insisted that "Nelson's performance concluded early" while offering full refunds to attendees. The rest of Willie's January shows were also canceled.

The onstage tragedy in San Diego came just five months after Willie, now 85 years old, was taken to a hospital after struggling through a show in Salt Lake City, Utah. “About 1 a.m. that same night,” said an insider, "Willie seemed to whitewash the whole affair with a tweet, blaming it all on the high altitude.” But the source said talk was much grimmer backstage!

“Everyone is concerned about Willie,” confided the source. “The fear is his health will only get worse. He might die on stage!” During the Aug. 13 show in Utah, the singer seemed to have “a hard time keeping up with the band,” an eyewitness said. Just 30 minutes into the set, Willie stepped off stage, and five minutes later it was announced the show was over.

The notorious pothead has admitted to being ravaged by emphysema and pneumonia in recent years, and had stem cell treatment to help his lungs in 2015. Willie had also canceled seven other gigs in 2017 before the disastrous Salt Lake City show. “Willie’s at death’s door,” warned the insider, “but he’s going out his way —like the warrior he’s always been!”