Willie Nelson Presents: King of the Roadies Set to World Premiere in Dallas

 

Some legends stand under the spotlight. Others make sure the spotlight turns on at all.

On April 27, 2025, Willie Nelson Presents: King of the Roadies will make its world premiere at the Dallas International Film Festival, telling the true story of one of country music’s most unsung heroes: Benjamin H. Dorcy III, better known as “Lovey.”

Lovey wasn’t just a roadie. He was the roadie. Widely recognized as the world’s first, and oldest, roadie, Dorcy helped pioneer an entire profession that most fans never think about but every artist depends on. His life unfolded behind stages, on tour buses, and across endless highways, quietly holding the music together while history was being made onstage.

Produced and presented by Willie Nelson, the documentary has been 16 years in the making and arrives as a heartfelt tribute to the people who keep the show on the road without asking for applause.

“It’s one thing to have a bunch of good ideas,” Willie Nelson says in the film, “but to make them work and to put them into action, you need someone like Ben to do it, and he never failed.”

Directed by Amy Lee Nelson and Trevor Doyle Nelson, King of the Roadies brings together an incredible lineup of voices who knew Lovey best and witnessed his impact firsthand. The film features stories and reflections from Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Knoxville, Kinky Friedman, Jamey Johnson, Ann-Margret, and more.

Together, they paint a portrait of a man who rivaled time itself, keeping tours moving, artists supported, and music alive during the golden era of American country music. Lovey may not have been the name on the marquee, but his fingerprints are all over the history of Texas music and beyond.

The world premiere will take place Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. at the historic Texas Theatre in Dallas. The Dallas International Film Festival is an official Oscar-qualifying festival, making this debut especially meaningful for a film that honors legacy, craftsmanship, and devotion to the art.

At its heart, Willie Nelson Presents: King of the Roadies is more than a documentary. It’s a love letter to the behind-the-scenes workers, the service industry professionals, and the unseen hands who make live music possible night after night.

The official trailer is available now on YouTube, and if you care about country music history, this is one story worth pulling over for and listening to all the way through.