andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

Bob Dylan will be joined by two very special guests when he embarks on an extensive tour of minor-league baseball parks this summer.

The rock icon has enlisted Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp for the 23-date U.S. trek, marking just the second time in 24 years that the three musicians have performed together.

The tour, which will forego major cities for smaller locales, kicks off in Sauget, IL on July 2 and wraps up in Stockton, California on Aug. 15.

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Looks like the remake of the 1988 classic “Working Girl” is going ahead, and now it has a big guest star signed on to it.

Reuters is reporting that Willie Nelson will appear alongside Jessica Simpson in the remake of the film, which will be called “Blonde Ambition.”

Nelson will play Simpson’s grandfather in the film, which tells the story of a woman who becomes a pawn between two CEOs as they try to replace the head of another international company.

Other actors already cast include Larry Miller, Luke Wilson, Rachael Leigh Cook, Andy Dick and Penelope Ann Miller.

Country and western star Willie Nelson has been issued misdemeanour citations for possession of drugs while touring in Louisiana, reports Louisville’s The Courier-Journal.

Four others were also cited after police allegedly found one and a half pounds of marijuana and slightly more than three ounces of narcotic mushrooms on the singer’s tour bus after making a routine inspection.

“When the door was opened and the trooper began to speak to the driver, he smelled the strong odour of marijuana,” state police said in a news release.

The “On the Road Again” singer could have faced felony charges had he been the only person caught in possession of the drugs, but since all five people claimed the drugs were theirs, they were all cited with misdemeanours.

Also cited was Tony Sizemore, 59, of St. Cloud, Florida.; Bobbie Nelson, 75, of Briarcliff, Texas; Gates Moore, 54, of Austin, Texas; and David Anderson, 50, of Dallas

Nelson, 73, has yet to comment on the incident.

Country legend Willie Nelson has finally been busted for being a pothead.

Louisiana police have charged Nelson and four fellow musicians for misdemeanor drug possession, according to Reuters.

The bus was pulled over on Monday morning by a state trooper for a standard commercial inspection. However, the routine stop turned into a search of the bus when the cop smelled marijuana.

In the search, police seized about 1.5 pounds (0.7 kg) of marijuana and 0.2 pounds (91 grams) of psychadelic mushrooms, according to police spokesman Willie Williams.

“There was no trouble whatsoever,” Williams said. “They were all cooperative.”

If convicted, Nelson will face a maximum sentence of 6 months in jail an a yet-to-be-determined fine.

Country music legend Willie Nelson was clearly looking for a fresh, young vision when he set out to make his latest album.

Titled “Songbird,” the record was produced by Ryan Adams. As well, his band The Cardinals back the 73-year-old Nelson on the entire LP.

Billboard reports that the album is set for an October 31 release date on Lost Highway records.

Four cover songs, including Gram Parson’s “$1000 Wedding” and Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” are included in the set, along with a version of traditional pick “Amazing Grace.”

Here’s the full 11-song track list for “Songbird”:

“Rainy Day Blues”
“Songbird”
“Blue Hotel”
“Back to Earth”
“Stella Blue”
“Hallelujah”
“$1000 Wedding”
‘We Don’t Run”
“Yours Love”
“Sad Songs & Waltzes”
“Amazing Grace”

Country icon Willie Nelson has bought a church he frequented as a young boy in order to save it from an uncertain future.

Nelson celebrated his purchase of the Abbott Methodist Church in Abbott, Texas on Sunday, reports the Associated Press.

The service brought together family, friends and longtime members of the congregation for prayers and music.

Nelson and his sister Bobbie, along with guests including Leon Russell, performed hymns like “Uncloudy Day,” “I’ll Fly Away,” “Will the Circle be Unbroken” and “Precious Memories.”

“Sister Bobbie and I have been going to this church since we were born,” Nelson, 73, told the crowd. “Now, you’re all members of the Abbott Methodist Church, and you will be, forever and ever.”

The church had suffered from dwindling attendence in recent years, and finally closed in May when the congregation merged with another in Hillsboro.

Nelson’s own involvement with the operations of the church is expected to be minimal, but he promised it would remain a place of worship and not turn into an entertainment venue.

U.S. soldiers injured in Iraq and being treated in Texas were entertained on Friday by music legend Willie Nelson.

Nelson performed 22 songs during a free concert at the Brooke Army Medical Centre.

“I have a lot of respect for the military,” he said, according to the Associated Press. “I like to show them that I support them every chance I get. We get as much out of it as (the soldiers).”

He used the show to ready himself for a concert at a rodeo in San Antonio.

Nelson performed at the same hospital last year before the rodeo, and lost his voice after 11 songs, forcing him to cancel the rodeo appearance.

Willie Nelson released a different kind of country love song this Valentine’s.

On the heels of the much talked about gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, Nelson has released a gay cowboy song that was written more than 20 years ago.

“Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly (Fond of Each Other)” will be available exclusively through iTunes and was premiered Tuesday on the Howard Stern Show.

“The song’s been in the closet for 20 years. The timing’s right for it to come out,” said Nelson.

The song features Tex-Mex style guitar runs, says ABC News, over which Nelson sings lines like, “What did you think all them saddles and boots was about?” and “Inside every cowboy there’s a lady who’d love to slip out.”

It was written in 1981 by by Texas-born singer-songwriter Ned Sublette.

Nelson’s own manager, David Anderson, came out of the closet two years ago.

“This song obviously has special meaning to me in more ways than one,” said Anderson.

“I want people to know more than anything – gay, straight, whatever – just how cool Willie is and … his way of thinking, his tolerance, everything about him.”

Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young ? the three founders of Farm Aid ? will play at the annual festival this year, along with Dave Matthews.

In this its 20th anniversary of the concert festival, the show will return to Illinois, home of the first Farm Aid concert.

More artists will be announced in the coming weeks. The concert will be held September 18 at the Tweeter Center.

Nelson started the concert shortly after Live Aid was held. Farm Aid helps strengthen the family farm system and has raised $27 million.

This year’s concert will encourage people to purchase food from family farms. And the show is just the end of a week of festivities, which will also include a county fair, a film festival, educational events, and a book release.

“From small towns to folks in the city, everybody knows family farm food is the best,” said Nelson. “It’s good to be back in Illinois where it all started. This state is showing how good food can connect places like Champaign and Chicago. It inspires us to think about family farmers every day. I’m looking forward to playing on the Farm Aid stage, playing music with my friends.”

Since its first concert in 1985, Farm Aid has traveled around the U.S., playing in different cities.