Willie Nelson and Neil Young Perform Old Song With a New Line About Data Centres

On September 26, 2026, Farm Aid drew an enormous crowd to Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater in Virginia Beach. Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp founded the festival in 1985 to raise funds for farmers, and each of the three founders returned to perform at this edition.

Near the close of the festival, Nelson and Young appeared together for “Are There Any More Real Cowboys?” The joint performance prompted cheers from the audience. Nelson was 93 and Young was 80, yet the response showed that their music retained its ability to connect with listeners.

Their rendition did not simply revisit the song in its earlier form. They revised a reference to rows of houses so that it mentioned data centres instead, updating the material for contemporary listeners while retaining the subject at its core.

The change particularly impressed the source’s writer, who was surprised by how relevant the revised reference made the song feel. Both performers have been associated with activism and protest songs, and the update reflected their continuing commitment to communicating that message through music.

Watch the full performance on page two