UT Tyler Cowan Center Welcomes Lukas Nelson

February 20, 2026 | Hannah Buchanan

Son of Willie Nelson to Perform Friday, May 8

The University of Texas at Tyler R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center has added Lukas Nelson, son of country music legend Willie Nelson, to the 2025-26 “Big Names, Big Entertainment” season.

Lukas Nelson will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 8, at the Cowan Center.

“This engagement with Lukas Nelson is an excellent addition to our spring programs,” said Ryan Poynter, Cowan Center executive director. “His storied career and blending of styles give everyone something to enjoy. We are looking forward to welcoming the Texas native to Tyler for what promises to be a great show.”

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at cowancenter.org or at the box office. Office hours are 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician Lukas Nelson has become one of the most respected voices in music today. In the midst of a landmark year, Nelson released his acclaimed new album, American Romance, this past summer, which was Grammy-nominated for Best Traditional Country Album.

Throughout his esteemed career, he has also established himself as a highly sought-after collaborator both in the studio and on the stage, teaming up with rising stars and music veterans alike such as Lainey Wilson, Stephen Wilson Jr., Ernest, Miranda Lambert/Pistol Annies, The Travelin' McCourys, Sierra Ferrell and more. He also performed at the MusiCares 2025 Person of the Year Gala, where he honored the Grateful Dead by performing “It Must Have Been the Roses” with Ferrell.

Known for his captivating live performances, Lukas Nelson has sold out countless headline shows and been featured at renowned festivals such as Stagecoach, Ohana Festival, Bourbon & Beyond and Farm Aid, in addition to appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Howard Stern Show, The Joe Rogan Experience and more. Additionally, he co-produced the music for the acclaimed 2018 film A Star is Born, in which he also appeared.

With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 11,500 students. Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellentpatient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.