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Willie Nelson & Friends: Live & Kickin

Title: Willie Nelson and Friends: Live and Kickin'

With Performances By: Ray Charles, Kenny Chesney, Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Wyclef Jean, Norah Jones, Toby Keith, Diana Krall, Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett, John Mellencamp, Shelby Lynne, Ray Price, Leon Russell, Paul Simon, Shania Twain, Steven Tyler, and ZZ Top

Special Appearances By: Former President Bill Clinton, Robert De Niro, Whoopi Goldberg, Ethan Hawke, and Ali McGraw

Director: Jeb Brien

Executive Producer: Mark Rothbaum

Running Time: 90 minutes without commercials

Media: USA Network Memorial Day Concert Event (NTSC VHS Screener)

Premiere: Memorial Day, Monday, May 26th, at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT).

Network: USA Network Television (Check your local cable/satellite listings for channel)

TV Rating: Not Available At The Time Of This Writing

Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera

Country music legend and American icon Willie Nelson is joined by some of the biggest names in music for the special concert event, “Willie Nelson and Friends: Live & Kickin.'” An all-star line-up came together and performed in celebration of Willie's 70th birthday in the two-hour telecast to air exclusively on USA Network. “Willie Nelson and Friends: Live and Kickin'” was taped Wednesday, April 9th at the Beacon Theatre in New York City.

The all-star musical lineup includes Ray Charles, Kenny Chesney, Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Wyclef Jean, Norah Jones, Toby Keith, Diana Krall, Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett, John Mellencamp, Shelby Lynne, Ray Price, Leon Russell, Paul Simon, Shania Twain, Steven Tyler, and ZZ Top.

There are also special appearances by former President Bill Clinton, Robert De Niro (Meet The Parents, Raging Bull), Whoopi Goldberg (Ghost, The Color Purple), Ethan Hawke (Training Day, Hamlet) and Ali McGraw (Love Story, Glam).

The Set List is as follows:

1)    I Didn't Come Here And I Ain't Leavin' - Willie Nelson
2)    Nightlife - Eric Clapton & Willie
3)    Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain - Shania Twain
4)    Homeward Bound - Paul Simon & Willie
5)    Me & Bobby McGee - Sheryl Crow & Kris Kristofferson
6)    Beer For My Horses - Toby Keith & Willie
7)    Crazy - Diana Krall, Elvis Costello & Willie
8)    To All The Girls I've Loved Before - Wyclef Jean & Willie
9)    Wurlitzer Prize - Norah Jones & Willie
10)    San Antonio Girl - Lyle Lovett, Ray Price & Willie
11)    She Loves My Automobile - ZZ Top & Willie
12)    Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground - Shelby Lynne
13)    A Song For You - Ray Charles, Leon Russell & Willie
14)    I Couldn't Believe It Was True - John Mellencamp
15)    Run That By Me One More Time - Ray Price & Willie
16)    I'll Never Smoke Weed With Willie Again - Toby Keith
17)    Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning - Kenny Chesney &
Willie
18)    One Time Too Many - Steven Tyler & Willie
19)    Forever And For Always - Shania Twain & Willie
20)    On The Road Again - All

Encore presentations of Willie Nelson and Friends: Live and Kickin' will air on USA Network immediately following the premiere at 11:00p.m., as well as on Saturday, May 31st at 2:00 a.m. and Sunday, June 1st at 9:00 a.m.

”Willie Nelson & Friends: Live & Kickin'” will be released on CD by Lost Highway Records on June 3rd.

I was surprised to learn that Willie Nelson was 70 years old. Aside from some real long hair, I have to say the guy looks the same to me. Sort of like the way character actor Harry Dean Anderson in most of his movies looks like he is caught in some sort time warp and never ages. He looks no younger or no older. Like Anderson, Nelson looks just the same as I remember him in my mind’s eye. While I am not a country music fan, I did find the concert to be a nice eclectic mix of music. In particular the duet with Paul Simon was very good. Encores will air on USA Network immediately following the premiere at 11:00pm, as well as Saturday, May 31, at 2:00am and Sunday, June 1, at 9:am. Willie Nelson fans take note. This is a very heartwarming concert not to be missed.

© Copyright 2003 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.

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