Willie Nelson Cancels Concert After Storm Damage—Fans React with Concern

A powerful storm and sudden cancellation left Willie Nelson fans heartbroken. The Outlaw Music Festival concert, scheduled for July 1, 2025, at the Lucky Star Amphitheater in El Reno, Oklahoma, was officially canceled on June 30. Nelson’s team made the announcement via Instagram, sparking a wave of concern among fans.

Storm Wreaks Havoc on Tour

Just a day earlier, extreme weather struck the festival’s stop at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Missouri. On June 29, heavy rain and high winds damaged instruments and key equipment. The storm also forced an emergency evacuation of concertgoers.

Despite the crew’s best efforts to salvage the next show, the damage proved too severe. Organizers determined there wasn’t enough time to repair or replace the gear in time for the Oklahoma event.

Refunds and Apologies Issued

Organizers from Blackbird Presents, Lucky Star Amphitheater, and DCF Concerts issued a joint apology. They promised full refunds to all ticket holders. Fortunately, the tour is set to resume in Austin, Texas, on July 4.

Fans Flood Social Media with Support

The cancellation announcement quickly drew emotional responses. Fans filled the comment section with messages of disappointment, concern, and love.

• “Sorry to hear this.”

• “Oh no.”

• “Stay safe ❤️.”

But… What About Trigger?

As fan concern grew, one question kept surfacing: Is Trigger okay? Nelson’s iconic guitar, Trigger, has been with him since 1969 and is beloved in its own right.

• “God bless Trigger! If he survived a fire, a little water won’t hurt.”

• “THE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW IF TRIGGER IS OKAY THO.”

Eventually, Nelson himself jumped into the comments and reassured fans:

“Trigger is marked SAFE from the damage suffered to other instruments and equipment in the MO storm.”

The Legend of Trigger

Trigger isn’t just a guitar—it’s a piece of music history. A weathered Martin N-20 with a worn-out hole near the bridge, Trigger has played a central role in Nelson’s sound for more than 50 years. Nelson named it after Roy Rogers’ horse and rescued it from a house fire the very year he bought it.

Later, during an IRS seizure in the early ’90s, Nelson sent Trigger to his daughter Lana, who hid it in Hawaii until it was safe to return. Though battered, the guitar has never left his side.

“I need a place to put my fingers,” Nelson once said about the hole in the guitar, smiling in a 2015 Rolling Stone documentary.

A Man and His Guitar

Despite missing out on a long-awaited show, fans walked away with something deeper: a reminder of the bond between Willie Nelson and his faithful guitar.

As Nelson once said:

“We’re both pretty old, got a few scars here and there, but we still manage to make a sound every now and then.”