NASHVILLE, Tenn. – This calls for a celebration as renowned vocalist and Grand Ole Opry member Gene Watson announces his upcoming tour - 80th Birthday + 80 Tour Dates - the 2023 Celebration Tour. The Texas native kicked off his tour on Jan. 14 in Huntsville, Texas and will be on the road all the way through Dec. 15 in Tomball, Texas, where the tour will conclude. Along the way he will be making stops in various states such as South Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Missouri, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. See the full list of tour dates below and to purchase tickets click HERE.
The tour will showcase his most recent album Outside the Box, which was released in Sept. 2022. The album was ranked number four by Country Music People magazine's editor on the Critics Choice list of 2022, stating Watson is, “As good as ever.” Outside the Box features 12 tracks of Watson’s signature vocals with newly recorded songs as well as re-imagined hits across multiple genres, from Merle Haggard to Etta James. "I may not be going around the world in 80 days but spending my 80th birthday with 80 tour dates and singing to fans across the country is just as exciting to me," Watson shared.
Watson's first single "If It's That Easy" was released to radio in 1962 via Sun Valley Records. Since then, the 'singer's singer' has charted 75 titles including 23 Top 10 hits, six No. 1 country singles and five No. 1 gospel records. Watson continues to perform to sold-out crowds, singing in the same key as he did more than five decades ago and thrilling fans with his famous octave jumping ending to "Farewell Party" night after night.
GENE WATSON 80TH BIRTHDAY + 80 TOUR DATES: Jan. 14 Old Town Theater - Huntsville, Texas Jan. 19 Leo J. Welder Center PAC - Victoria, Texas Jan. 20 Cactus Theater - Lubbock, Texas Jan. 21 Bosque Arts Center - Clifton, Texas Feb. 10 Newberry Opera House - Newberry, S.C. Feb. 11 Jettie Baker Center - Clintwood, Va. Feb. 24 Orange Blossom Opry - Weirsdale, Fla. Feb. 25 Florida Classic Music Fest - Brooksville, Fla. Feb. 26 Orange Blossom Opry - Weirsdale, Fla. March 2 Brauntex Theater - New Braunfels, Texas March 3 The Post OG - Orange Grove, Texas March 10 Arlington Music Hall - Arlington, Texas March 11 The Pines Theatre - Lufkin, Texas March 17 Rome City Auditorium - Rome, Ga. March 18 Walhalla Civic Auditorium - Walhalla, S.C. March 24 Heart of Texas Country Music - Brady, Texas March 31 Texan Theater - Cleveland, Texas April 1 Texan Theater - Cleveland, Texas April 7 Main Street Crossing - Tomball, Texas April 15 Coyote Country Store - Gail, Texas April 22 Woodward Theatre at Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum - Owensboro, Ky. April 29 Williams Auditorium - Henderson, TN May 5 Little Roy & Lizzy Festival - Lincolnton, Ga. May 12 The Roundup - Boerne, Texas May 13 Neon Moon - Yantis, Texas July 14 Historic State Theatre - Elizabethtown, Ky. July 16 American Music Theatre - Lancaster, Pa. Aug. 11 Main Street Crossing - Tomball, Texas Aug. 18 Reidsville Showcase Theatre - Reidsville, N.C. Aug. 19 Liberty Showcase Theatre - Liberty, N.C. Aug. 26 The Lincoln Theatre - Marion, Va. Sep. 16 American Made Festival - Hiawassee, Ga. Sep. 22 Mansion Theatre - Branson, Mo. Oct. 3 Larry’s Country Diner - Branson, Mo. Oct. 5 Blue Gate PAC - Shipshewana, Ind. Oct. 13 Kentucky Opry - Benton, Ky. Oct. 14 Kentucky Opry - Benton, Ky. Oct. 21 Mansion Theatre - Branson, Mo. Oct. 28 Homochitto River Festival - Meadville, Miss. Nov. 4 Old Town Theater - Huntsville, Texas Nov. 10 Wichita Union Stockyards - Wichita, Kan. Nov. 11 Mansion, Theatre - Branson, Mo. Dec. 2 Southern Junction - Rockwall, Texas Dec. 15 Main Street Crossing - Tomball, Texas About Gene Watson: From his chart-topping soulful gospel albums to his No. 1 country standards, few artists have left a more indelible mark on America's musical landscape than Gene Watson. As a newly inducted member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2020, Watson has been thrilling audiences for 60 years. This masterful country stylist from Houston, Texas, known as “The Singer’s Singer,” has more than 75 charted titles, 23 Top 10 hits, six No. 1 country singles and five No. 1 gospel hits. Watson is also a member of the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame and the Houston, Texas Music Hall of Fame. Fans are still transfixed whenever Watson performs classics like “Farewell Party,” “Fourteen Carat Mind” or “Love in the Hot Afternoon.” A road warrior and considered one of the finest pure-country singers of his generation, Watson offers up one of the best traditional country shows in the business. For more information, visit GeneWatsonMusic.com.