BREAKING: Luke Bryan Unable To Perform At Watershed Festival, Lainey Wilson Steps Up As Replacement
“This is such a frustrating weekend,” Bryan shared.
Luke Bryan, Lainey Wilson; Photos by Andrew Wendowski
Luke Bryan will no longer be performing at the 2023 Watershed Festival.
On Sunday afternoon (Aug. 6), the country superstar took to social media to share the unfortunate news with fans.
“This is such a frustrating weekend. ‘Shedders, I am sorry to let you down but I am not back singing – can hardly even talk still,” Bryan shared. “This festival is one of the most beautiful places we perform and one of the most fun crowds always.”
“I know my friends on the show will bring a great time for you! Show them all what you got. Love ya, Luke!” Bryan’s statement concluded.
Brian O’Connell, President of Live Nation Country and also known as BOC Country, revealed that Lainey Wilson would be filling in for Luke Bryan as the headliner for Watershed Festival on Sunday, August 6.
“Tonight’s Luke Bryan at Watershed Festival has been canceled due to Illness, but we are excited to welcome Lainey Wilson as this evening’s headliner. I cannot wait for that,” O’Connell said in the clip.
O’Connell also shared that concertgoers will receive a partial refund for their tickets due to the lineup change.
“We’re also going to be issuing a refund for 1/3 of your base price festival wristband for this lineup change. The refund will be processed within 10–14 days. It’ll be automatically credited. There’s nothing else that you need to do. We are so looking forward to an amazing Sunday here at Watershed Festival. We’ve had a great festival so far and we cannot wait with all the enthusiasm to welcome Lainey Wilson on her first headlining slot ever at Watershed.”
The news comes after Bryan was forced to cancel his Country On Tour date in Boise and suddenly postpone his concert at USANA Amphitheatre in Salt Lake City, Utah.
On Saturday (Aug. 5), Luke Bryan had to make the tough decision to cancel his show at Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater in Boise, Idaho. At the time, the American Idol judge took to social media to issue a statement with fans.
“Dear Boise fans – this is so hard for me to do but I am going to have to cancel my show on August 5th at Ford Center,” Luke Bryan wrote.
He then shared that he sought medical attention and he is following the guidelines set forth by his physician.
“Under the advisement of doctors I need another day to rest my voice and get better,” he continued. ”There is nothing that I love more than to play live shows and I am so disappointed to not be able to do this for you.”
He concluded, “More info will be sent to those who bought tickets. Love ya Luke.”
Just one day prior, hours before the doors opened, the country hitmaker released a statement to his fans to provide an explanation for the postponement.
“Dear Salt Lake fans, for the past couple of weeks I’ve been battling a head cold,” Bryan wrote. ”I have been spending those days warming up and singing and have been able to perform.”
He then went on to share that he wasn’t well enough to take the stage and had to make the tough decision to postpone the show.
“Today I have followed the same routine trying to not give up but I am just not getting better,” he continued. “I truly can not give you the show I want to give so I am going to have to postpone tonight’s show at USANA Amphitheatre to August 31, 2023.”
Luke Bryan’s statement concluded, “Thank you so much for understanding.”
The postponement comes as his brand-new single, “But I Got A Beer In My Hand,” a tune co-written by Chase McGill, Matt Dragstrem and Geoff Warburton, makes its way into the top 15 at Country radio.
Co-produced by Jeff Stevens and Jody Stevens, “But I Got A Beer In My Hand” serves as his current single, and is expected to appear on his yet-to-be-announced next studio album.
Additionally, the five-time Entertainer Of The Year is currently in the midst of his headlining Country On Tour, which kicked off on June 15 in Syracuse, New York. The trek, which runs through October 28, will visit 36 cities across the United States with stops in Philadelphia, Nashville, Charlotte, and more.
Chayce Beckham, Tyler Braden, Ashley Cooke, Jackson Dean, Jon Langston, Conner Smith, Alana Springsteen, and Hailey Whitters join Bryan on the run alongside DJ Rock.
“I’m so excited about this year’s summer tour, the Country On Tour. I’ve got a lot of new up-and-coming artists. Some of ‘em have had a hit, some of ‘em are about to have a hit. They’re gonna be out there with me, and I’m so excited to be around young talent and watch them enjoy the summer tour,” Bryan previously shared of his tour mates.
He later added, “My favorite part about being out there on the Country On Tour is going town to town, and nothing is better than being out on the road in the summer.”
Later this year, Luke Bryan will take to the road for his 14th annual Farm Tour, which is set to run from September 14 through September 23. The trek will find Bryan visiting five farms, including Mulberry Orchard (Shelbyville, KY), Miller Family Farm (Millersport, OH), Schnell Family Farms (Colfax, IA), Klondike Farms (Brooklyn, WI) and Gar-Lin Dairy LLC (Eyota, MN).
Kameron Marlowe, Chayce Beckham, Peach Pickers and DJ Rock will serve as support on the Georgia native’s Farm Tour.
“One of the reasons we created these Farm Tour shows – to bring the big-city tour to the people,” Bryan explained in a press release. “These nights are one-of-a-kind and we really enjoy getting to know the farmers and their families, love the whole atmosphere of playing on these incredible farms and watching entire communities come together and get excited about these shows.”
Additional information about the Farm Tour can be found HERE.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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