Singer Judy Collins is currently undertaking a 50-date tour, billed as a "farewell tour," but the 87-year-old artist is clarifying that the designation does not signify an end to her musical endeavors. Collins described the tour, which extends through next spring, not as a goodbye but as "a moment in time where we gather things together and let people see me with what I do with other guests."
The tour, which Collins prefers to call "Sweet Judy Blue Eyes"—a nod to the Crosby, Stills, and Nash song written for her by Stephen Stills—features duets with a variety of artists including Richard Thompson, Bruce Cockburn, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Rosanne Cash. Collins expressed her enthusiasm for collaborating with artists she hasn't worked with before, as well as reuniting with those she has.
Collins also shared a poignant memory of performing with Stephen Stills in 2025, shortly after the death of her husband, Louis Nelson, a designer known for the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Stills' appearance and their duet of "Helplessly Hoping" held deep meaning for Collins, particularly Stills' comment to the audience, "She married the right man," acknowledging his friendship with Nelson.
Collins finds herself among a generation of legendary musicians, including Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, and Paul McCartney, who continue to perform well into their later years. She likened herself to "the Betty White of the folk music revival," noting that artists in her youth often maintained long and active careers. For Collins, the drive to continue stems from a fundamental love of her craft. "People who work love to work. And as long as they can, they will, which I think is phenomenal," she stated.
Beyond the tour, Collins remains actively engaged in multiple creative projects. She is working on a book titled "The Voice: Singing Through the Storm," and composing music for a Broadway play. Additionally, a duets album is in the works. "I’m always working, because I love to work, and it makes me feel happy," Collins said, underscoring her ongoing commitment to her music and creative output.