Apr 14thA & E’s Willie: Life & Songs of an American Outlaw Review

Since I shared this upcoming A & E program and wrote about our experience at the concert, I thought I’d share my review of the television show.

After waiting for over a year to watch the A & E special tribute show Willie Nelson American Outlaw, I have to say I was a bit disappointed. First let me say, if I had watched the show without having been at the taping concert, I would have enjoyed it a lot. I still thought it was a good show, but it could (and should) have been a lot better.

Some of our favorite moments from the concert were the ones that were left on the cutting room floor. Just a few examples, Kris Kristofferson sang Me and Bobby McGee with Willie and Eric Church. Norah Jones did an amazing job of the haunting ballad Remember Me. When Allison Krauss sang Angel Flying too Close to the Ground, the entire audience was spellbound. There were other performers and songs that were better than some of those that did make the A & E broadcast.

It left me feeling that the producers were not the country music fans. This was also demonstrated by the interviews about Willie, those featured most often were Sheryl Crow and Dave Matthews. Those were not the first names to come to mind when discussing Willie’s career. Singers who have toured with Willie would have been better choices, such as, Emmy Lou Harris and Lee Ann Womack.

Even a glass (or two) of Barboursville Vineyards Vermentino, which is excellent, didn’t make me mellow enough to ease my disappointment. Maybe there will be an unedited DVD. A true fan can only hope!