The American musician, singer, songwriter, author, poet, actor, and activist, will bring his classics to town with such hits as “Always On My Mind,” autobiographical road songs like “On the Road Again,” and catchy rhythms including “Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys.”

He was one of the main figures of outlaw country, a subgenre of country music that developed in the late 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restrictions of the Nashville sound. Nelson has acted in more than 30 films, co-authored several books, and has been involved in activism for the use of biofuels and the legalization of marijuana.

The Aquarius hosted a ground-breaking ceremony with gold shovels and hard hats to mark the official start of construction for their 3,200-square-foot resort pool, which will be the largest in the tri-state area. The $5 million project is expected to be completed in May.

The pool will be located behind the parking garage in the southeast corner of the property replacing the Aquarius' former outdoor amphitheater space. Plans for the 34,251-square-foot pool area will offer amenities including more than 100 chaise lounges, 11 day beds, 12 cabanas, two hot tubs with special morning and evening times for adults, an outdoor bar with a window for the public to access from the Riverwalk, and a small grass area for small-scale concerts and recreational activities.

After decades, both the Steakhouse restaurant and Trop Lounge at the Tropicana have been given a new look and feel. The resort is moving away from its famous train theme and going for an overall tropical motif.

The Steakhouse is taking on a comfortable yet classy ambiance. The new colors are soft browns on the wallpaper, carpeting and paint scheme with colorful paintings on the walls. New light fixtures giving off a soothing tone are also an interesting design. The flow of the room allows for visuals like vintage suitcases giving a bon voyage feel, mini-metal sculptures, and soft candle lit lanterns.

The seating changed from high-back chairs in the two aisles of the room to low-back chairs, which makes people think the room is bigger. The cleaner lines help with this feeling. However, the walls and center are still outfitted with booths with the table seating in the aisles. The focal point of the room is still the stage lit back wall where the chefs can be viewed behind an opening. There is also a room at the front of the Steakhouse outfitted with a signature huge wrought iron clock that is nice for a reception, small meeting or private dinner party.

For the menu, many of the former popular menu items have made the transition as did the popular salad cart with all the toppings and extras.

The Trop Lounge, which is the old Caboose Lounge, has had a complete makeover. The overall effect is also cleaner and crisper. The sound system has been enhanced with advanced Bose speaker systems and also track spotlights are in place. The new design allows for the entire floor at the stage end of the lounge to be turned into a dance floor. Tables and chairs can be pushed back and the whole area can be open for dancing. One of the new signature looks is a mixture of different style chandeliers above the rectangular bar.

There are a few new specialty drinks including a souvenir Russian Mule where you keep the souvenir copper mug.

The Trop Lounge remains home to live music with top dance bands almost nightly. It is also home to football viewing and promotions.

The annual New Year's Eve free fireworks show will start after dark over the Colorado River with easy viewing along the Riverwalk.

Mel Tillis will bring country music to Don's Celebrity Theatre at the Riverside, Dec. 29-Jan 3. Tickets are $32 except on New Year's Eve when they are $35 for the 7 p.m. show and $40 for 11 p.m.

The New Year's show at Edgewater's E Center Dec. 30-Jan.1 will be “Under the Streetlamp” featuring Doo Wop, Motown and the classic rock vocal group that has done two PBS top specials. The quartet's members were recent leading cast members of the Tony Award-winning musical “Jersey Boys.” They deliver tight harmonies and slick dance moves. Tickets range from $35 to $85.

Harrah's Fiesta Showroom will feature “Rockapella” with mash-ups and classic rock done a capella Dec. 26-30 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $27 and $37.

Davie Mason will appear at Harrah's on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $38 and $48. Mason, renowned for such Traffic hits as “Feelin' Alright” and “Hole In My Shoe” plus his own solo signature tracks “We Just Disagree” and “Only You Know and I Know,” enjoys performing the music of Traffic. He believes it is important to keep the legacy alive of four young men from England's heartland and their contribution of contemporary music.

The “Traffic Jam” concerts feature hits and deep album cuts from 1967's “Mr. Fantasy” and 1968's Traffic albums, additional Traffic jams, rare photos, stories from Mason, plus new material and a selection his own classic music.

River Cruizers' “Cruizin' on the River” car show returns to the Riverside's South Parking Lot, Thursday-Sunday, Jan. 14-17. The event is open to all years, makes, models, street rods, muscle cars, trucks, classics, specialty vehicles, 4X4, motorcycles. Over the weekend there will be a Show ‘n' Shine, Parade of Cars on Casino Drive, automotive swap meet, Car Corral for vehicles sales, vendors, DJ music, contests, and more. The event starts at noon on Thursday, 8 a.m. Friday-Saturday, and 7 a.m. on Sunday with an awards/breakfast. There is a small fee to view cars. To enter a vehicle, call Ellen Bridges at 928-505-8457 or visit rivercruizers.com.

The Riverside will feature “Happy Birthday to the King” starring Don Rose in Don's Celebrity Theatre Jan. 5-10 at 7 p.m. Tickets will be $30.

Rose's stage charisma and his strong voice are why fans compare him with to Elvis. He has performed Elvis tributes all across the United States and Canada. Rose considers himself to be a bigger Elvis fan than impersonator. Vocally trained in Orlando, Fla., and Nashville, Tenn., Rose works hard to make every event a special occasion and looks forward to meeting Elvis fans all around the world.

The Kingston Trio will refresh music memories at the Riverside in Don's Celebrity Theatre Jan. 12-17. Tickets are $32.

The Kingston Trio emerged from San Francisco in1957 and took the country by storm bringing the rich tradition of American folk music into the mainstream for the first time. During the late 50s and early 60s, the trio enjoyed unprecedented record sales and worldwide fame, while influencing the musical tastes of a generation. Through changing times, the threesome has played on, remaining popular with great songs that sound as good today as the first time you heard them. And 65 years after “Tom Dooley” shot to the top of the charts, the three singers are still on the road 30 weeks a year, bringing back great memories.

Country music singer John Anderson will appear in the Avi Grand Ballroom on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35.

On his latest album “Goldmine,” released on his own Bayou Boys label, Anderson has completed a long overdue record of original songs. The award-winning songwriter wrote or co-wrote 12 of the album's 13 tracks. In a Country Music Hall of Fame-worthy career, Anderson has produced 23 albums, more than 60 singles with 20 reaching the Top 10, and a wealth of industry awards.

Raised in Apopka, Fla., Anderson moved to Nashville in 1972, working construction by day including as a roofer at the Grand Ole Opry House and playing the honky-tonks at night. He signed with Warner Bros. in 1977, and notched his first major hit in 1980 with Billy Jo Shaver's “I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal (But I'm Gonna Be a Diamond Someday).”

Anderson was inducted to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame on Oct. 5, 2014, and has made his home in Smithville, Tenn., for more than 30 years.