Iconic country singer Willie Nelson has struggled with breathing problems over the past few years. In 2017, he had to bow out early from a show in Salt Lake City due to the severity of the issue, according to the BBC. At the time, he explained, "The altitude got to me. I am feeling better now and headed for lower ground." However, the following year, he had to cancel a handful of shows after coming down with the flu, and later, Nelson was forced to pull out of the Outlaw Music Festival due to illness. In 2019, after a similar occurrence, Nelson took to Twitter to apologize for letting his fans down again. "I'm sorry to cancel my tour, but I have a breathing problem that I need to have my doctor check out," he wrote, adding, "I'll be back."
Country Thang Daily reported that the source of the "On The Road Again" singer's breathing problems is emphysema. The issue became so bad that Nelson was forced to give up smoking pot (per Taste of Country). This admission came as a shock to fans who are more than familiar with Nelson's unwavering support for legalizing marijuana. However, he told San Antonio news station KSAT that the decision was for the sake of his health. "I have abused my lungs quite a bit in the past ... so I have to be careful," he admitted. "I'm lucky to be here," he added, while flashing his signature smile.
