Willie Nelson, Kacey Musgraves, Mavis Staples Among Artists Added To MusiCares Person Of The Year Tribute

Willie Nelson
John Davisson
– Willie Nelson
“Farm Aid,” Jiffy Lube Live, Bristow, Va.
MusiCares announced additional artists Thursday for its annual Person of the Year tribute concert. Willie Nelson, Kacey Musgraves, Mavis Staples, Don Henley, Vince Gill, and Linda Perry will join a stacked lineup paying tribute to Dolly Parton on Feb. 8 in Los Angeles.
Chris Stapleton, Shawn Mendes, Pink, Norah Jones, Leon Bridges, and Mark Ronson were among the first wave of musicians announced for the event earlier this month.
The artists will perform under musical supervision from longtime Michael Jackson musical director Greg Phillinganes, and Parton herself will play at the event.
“I am so excited and humbled to be honored as MusiCares Person of the Year,” Parton said in a previous statement. “It’s even more special knowing the gala benefits music people in need. I can’t wait to hear all of the great artists singing my music.”
Parton’s naming as MusiCares Person of the Year is momentous: She’ll become the first country artist to receive the honor. Previous honorees include Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Barbra Streisand; earlier this year, Harry Styles, Keith Urban, and Miley Cyrus honored Fleetwood Mac.
Many of the newly announced artists have had massively successful years. Gill has continued to tour with Henley as a member of the Eagles. The country legend is currently in the midst of his annual Christmas show with Amy Grant at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, which expanded to 12 concerts this year after a 10-show 2017 run.
After a January illness briefly sidelined him, Nelson roared back with two studio albums and a rigorous touring schedule that included the most extensive version of his traveling Outlaw Music Festival to date. He’ll receive an honor himself on Feb. 6 from the Recording Academy’s Producers & Engineers Wing.
And Musgraves’ star continued to rise, with the release of her acclaimed album Golden Hour and an opening stint on Harry Styles’ arena tour. She’ll embark on a headlining tour of her own in January.
Founded by the Recording Academy, MusiCares helps support people in the music industry during times of hardship. As usual, the Person of the Year tribute will occur the weekend of the Grammys, which take place Feb. 10, 2019.