Willie Nelson and Kermit the Frog sing "Rainbow Connection" together at Luck Reunion

On March 14, 2024, Willie Nelson brought Kermit the Frog onstage during his headlining set at Luck Reunion, the festival he hosts at his ranch in Spicewood, Texas. Consequence reported that Kermit was a surprise guest. The two sang "Rainbow Connection," the 1979 song from The Muppet Movie, and then a gospel medley of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," "I'll Fly Away" and "Hard to Be Humble."

Rolling Stone called it a duet over 20 years in the making. Nelson had covered the song on his 2001 album Rainbow Connection, and in 2019 he sang it with Kacey Musgraves at the CMA Awards. Kermit had already performed it with Jim James of My Morning Jacket at Newport Folk Festival and with Debbie Harry. Barbra Streisand released a version with Kermit on her 2021 compilation Release Me 2.

Other acts at Luck Reunion that year included Tyler Childers, Old Crow Medicine Show, Madi Diaz, John Oates and Rett Madison. Pitchfork noted that Nelson also announced his album The Border at the festival; Consequence listed its release date as May 31, 2024.

Nelson's summer 2024 plans, reported alongside the news, included the Outlaw Music Festival Tour co-headlined with Bob Dylan from June through September.

Rolling Stone's headline says the two "finally" performed the song together, which matches Consequence's note that the duet had been a long time coming. More coverage is in the [news archive](/news).