Willie Nelson

Who Is Willie Nelson?

Willie Nelson is an iconic country singer and songwriter who gained prominence in the late 1960s as a pioneering figure in the “outlaw country” subgenre, which challenged the conservative norms of the Nashville music industry. Over his extensive and award-winning career, he has composed some of the most beloved and enduring country songs, many of which have been covered by a diverse array of artists throughout the past fifty years. Now in his 90s, Nelson continues to record, tour, and dedicate his time to various charitable and political causes.

Early Life

Willie Nelson was born on April 29, 1933, in Abbott, Texas, to Myrle and Ira D. Nelson. He and his older sister, Bobbie, were raised by their paternal grandparents during the Great Depression. The family’s strong musical background provided Willie and Bobbie with early exposure to music, as they regularly attended their local Methodist church. Nelson fondly describes his grandparents as “dedicated musical teachers,” who encouraged their grandchildren’s musical pursuits by ordering instructional books from Chicago.

At the age of six, Nelson received his first guitar, just months before the passing of his beloved grandfather. Shortly thereafter, he began writing poetry and composing music, with his famous gospel song “Family Bible” drawing from his early encounters with religious melodies. In 1959, he sold the song to his friend Paul Buskirk, a guitar instructor, for $50.

Although family and faith have always been central to Nelson’s life, he reveals in his 2015 memoir It’s a Long Story: My Life that church did not quell his adventurous spirit. He recalls how his mother often had to tether him to a pole in the yard to prevent him from wandering off. As a child, he exhibited an early desire to explore beyond the confines of his upbringing. At just ten years old, he began performing professional gigs with a local polka band, despite the apparent conflict with his Christian values. Nelson writes, “I was ten, a member in good standing of the Methodist Church and a devoted grandson. At the same time, when I was invited to play music in a beer joint, I said to hell with all the objections raised by the bible-thumpers.”

In 1947, he joined the gospel group Bud Fletcher and the Texans, which included Bobbie on piano. Nelson balanced his music career with his education, excelling in various sports. Over the next few years, the band played local club circuits, and Nelson made his first radio appearances.

Air Force

After graduating from Abbott High School in 1950, Nelson enlisted in the United States Air Force and was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. His military service was short-lived due to persistent back issues resulting from prior injuries, leading to a medical discharge just nine months later.

After leaving the Air Force, Nelson briefly attended a farming program at Baylor University. While studying, he took on various odd jobs, including selling encyclopedias door-to-door. Despite these challenges, his passion for music remained strong, and he worked as a disc jockey at several radio stations.

Early Songs: “Night Life,” “Crazy,” “Hello Walls”

In the ensuing years, Nelson traveled extensively, performing at local venues and honing his songwriting skills. This period marked the creation of some of his most notable early work, including “Night Life,” “Crazy,” and “Funny How Time Slips Away.”

In 1960, he settled in Nashville, Tennessee, the heart of country music, where he began working as a songwriter for Pamper Music, earning a modest salary of about $50 per week. The following year proved pivotal for Nelson, as two of his songs became major hits for other artists—Faron Young’s rendition of “Hello Walls” reached No. 1 on the country charts, selling two million copies, while Patsy Cline’s iconic version of “Crazy” became a Top 10 hit across both country and pop charts. Two years later, Ray Price’s recording of “Night Life” also made it into the Top 40 country hits.

Despite these achievements, Nelson’s own recordings were not met with the same success during this era. His unique style did not conform to the traditional Nashville country music mold, and attempts by producers to mold his sound often resulted in the loss of the distinctive qualities that set him apart, particularly his unconventional phrasing.

“No one should try to follow my phrasing,” Nelson explains in It’s a Long Story. “My phrasing is peculiar to me. I’ll lay back on the beat or jump ahead. I’m always doing something funny with time because, to me, time is a flexible thing. I believe in taking my time. When it comes to singing a song, I’ve got all the time in the world.” His resistance to conform to industry expectations, coupled with his growing reputation as a hard-living figure, further underscored his status as an outsider. “With all the music coming out of Nashville—all the great musicians and legendary producers—you’d think I’d be a natural fit,” he reflects. “I never was. For that I don’t blame Nashville. I blame my own peculiar nature.”

Although the 1962 single “Touch Me” reached the country Top 10, Nelson’s debut album, And Then I Wrote, failed to chart, as did his subsequent album, Here’s Willie Nelson. It appeared that his aspirations as a performing artist might never reach the heights enjoyed by those who recorded his songs.

Return to Texas

By 1970, Willie Nelson had established his residence in Ridgetop, Tennessee, but that year, he experienced a devastating event when his house was consumed by fire. In recounting this incident in his autobiography It’s a Long Story, Nelson describes the harrowing moment of rushing inside to retrieve two guitar cases—one containing his cherished guitar, Trigger, and the other filled with two pounds of premium Colombian marijuana. This catastrophic event served as a catalyst for change in his life.

Seeing the fire as a signal for a new direction, Nelson relocated back to his home state of Texas, bringing his family along. He settled in Austin, where he quickly became a significant figure in the local country music scene, performing regularly at various venues across the city.

In 1973, he launched his now-legendary Fourth of July picnics, drawing inspiration from the Woodstock festival. These gatherings evolved into popular musical celebrations, featuring performances from fellow country music outlaws such as Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings. In recognition of his contributions to music and culture, the Texas State Senate declared July 4 as Willie Nelson Day in 1975. This annual event continues to be a highly anticipated attraction.

‘Shotgun Willie’ and ‘Phases and Stages’

Upon returning to Texas, Nelson resumed his recording career, but with a distinctive approach that reflected his unique style and artistic vision. His unorthodox method soon garnered him a devoted fanbase. Released in 1973, Shotgun Willie is widely regarded as one of his finest albums, showcasing his talents as a singer, storyteller, and performer, despite its lackluster chart performance. This pattern continued with the release of Phases and Stages in 1974, which similarly did not achieve significant commercial success.

Rise of the ‘Red-Headed Stranger’

The turning point in Nelson’s career came in 1975 with the release of Red-Headed Stranger. This album marked his first significant success, reaching No. 1 on the country charts and even making an impact on the pop Top 40. A standout track from this album, “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” written by Fred Rose, not only became Nelson’s first No. 1 country hit but also earned him his inaugural Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance.

During this period, Nelson’s collaborative efforts also flourished. He joined forces with Jennings, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser on the compilation album Wanted! The Outlaws (1976), which enjoyed both critical acclaim and commercial success, further solidifying his place in the music industry.

Grammy Awards: “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up” and “Georgia on My Mind”

Willie Nelson collaborated with Waylon Jennings to record the popular single “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” which won the 1978 Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. Demonstrating his diverse musical interests, Nelson also recorded interpretations of American standards on his 1978 album Stardust. His rendition of Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell’s “Georgia on My Mind” garnered him a second Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance. The album was not only critically acclaimed but also achieved remarkable commercial success, remaining on the country charts for an entire decade.

Film Appearances and “On the Road Again”

Riding high on his musical successes, Nelson transitioned to film, making his debut in The Electric Horseman (1979) alongside Robert Redford and Jane Fonda. The following year, he starred in Honeysuckle Rose (1980) as a veteran country musician caught between his wife (Dyan Cannon) and a young singer (Amy Irving) who joins him on tour. Although the film received moderate success, it featured the iconic song “On the Road Again,” which earned Nelson an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song and won the Grammy Award for Best Country Song that year. This track has since become a hallmark of Nelson’s career.

In 1986, Nelson took on the titular role in Red Headed Stranger, a western drama film inspired by his 1975 album of the same name. His filmography continued to grow, including appearances in The Dukes of Hazzard (2005), Blonde Ambition (2007), Beer for My Horses (2008), and Zoolander 2 (2016).

“Always on My Mind” and “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before”

The 1980s marked a period of continued musical triumph for Nelson. His ballad “Always on My Mind” received the Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance in 1982, while the accompanying album topped both country and pop charts. Although albums like Tougher Than Leather (1983), Without a Song (1984), and City of New Orleans (1984) did not achieve crossover success, each reached the top of the country charts. Additionally, his collaboration with Julio Iglesias on the ballad “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before” (1982) became a massive international hit.

The Highwaymen

In 1985, Nelson joined forces with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson to form the country supergroup The Highwaymen. Nelson remarked, “You wouldn’t think that our four uneven voices would blend, but they did. They fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.” Their first album, Highwayman (1985), achieved platinum status, with the title track reaching No. 1 on the country charts. The group produced two more albums, Highwayman 2 (1990) and The Road Goes on Forever (1995). Nelson also starred alongside Cash and Kristofferson in the 1986 television movie Stagecoach.

Farm Aid and Animal Activism

Nelson’s fondness for farming was rooted in his childhood experiences of raising calves and hogs while helping his grandparents tend to their garden. Reflecting on this time, he noted, “I was developing skills at farming,” influenced by his grandparents and his involvement with the Future Farmers of America. In 1985, he co-organized the inaugural Farm Aid concert with fellow musicians Neil Young and John Mellencamp, which raised nearly $10 million to support family farmers. To date, Farm Aid has raised millions more for its cause, and Nelson continues to participate in the annual event.

A strong advocate for animal welfare, Nelson has collaborated with various organizations, including the Society for Protective Animal Legislation and Best Friends Animal Society. He is particularly active in a campaign to rescue horses from slaughter, working with his group, Willie and the Nelson Family, to record the song “Wild Horses” to support the initiative.

IRS and Legal Challenges

The 1990s presented Nelson with both challenges and triumphs, beginning with an unexpected $16 million tax bill from the Internal Revenue Service for unpaid taxes. Rather than file for bankruptcy, he chose to confront the IRS, releasing the album The IRS Tapes: Who’ll Buy My Memories? to assist in settling his debt. Ultimately, he negotiated a reduced payment of $6 million.

Tragedy struck in 1991 when his son Billy, aged 33, died in what Nelson described as “a terrible accident.” He reflected on the challenges faced by the children of entertainers, acknowledging the sacrifices they make for their parents’ public lives. Despite these hardships, Nelson persevered, with albums like Across the Borderline (1993) and Healing Hands of Time (1994) reaching the Top 20 on the country charts. In 1994, he faced another legal issue when he was arrested for marijuana possession in Texas, though the case was eventually dismissed.

Later Albums: Teatro to Moment of Forever

In 1998, Nelson collaborated with producer Daniel Lanois on the album Teatro, which was recognized for its minimalistic yet impactful percussion and included background vocals by Emmylou Harris. Maintaining a rigorous touring schedule of 150 to 200 dates per year, he continued to produce a significant body of work, including The Great Divide (2002) and Countryman (2005), the latter integrating reggae elements.

In 2008, Moment of Forever was released to critical acclaim, and Nelson won a Grammy that year for “Lost Highway,” a duet with Ray Price. This collaboration reflected the enduring quality of his early work.

Collaborations: Snoop Dogg, Merle Haggard, Sheryl Crow, and More

Nelson continued to work with various artists throughout his career. In 2008, he performed with rap icon Snoop Dogg in Amsterdam, leading to their collaboration on the video for “My Medicine.” In 2009, he partnered with Asleep at the Wheel to produce the country swing album Willie and the Wheel and released Naked Willie, featuring new mixes of his earlier recordings. In 2010, he released the critically acclaimed Country Music, collaborating with producer T Bone Burnett.

In 2012, after signing a new record deal with Legacy Recordings, Nelson released Heroes, featuring guest appearances by Merle Haggard, Snoop Dogg, Kristofferson, and Sheryl Crow. The album peaked at No. 4 on the country charts and No. 18 on the pop charts, marking his highest charting success since Always on My Mind. That year, he was honored with an all-star tribute at the Country Music Association Awards in Nashville.

In 2014, shortly before his 81st birthday, Nelson showcased his continued physical prowess by earning a fifth-degree black belt in GongKwon Yusul. His subsequent album, Band of Brothers, released in June 2014, yielded yet another No. 1 country hit.

Following the receipt of the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song from the Library of Congress in 2015, Nelson released Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin (2016), a tribute to the legendary songs of George and Ira Gershwin, featuring collaborations with artists such as Sheryl Crow and Cyndi Lauper. Still active in the music scene, Nelson released God’s Problem Child in April 2017 and followed with Last Man Standing, his 67th studio album, in 2018. In 2019, the timeless artist released Ride Me Back Home, with its title track winning a Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance.

Green Fuel and Cannabis Companies

In 2004, Willie Nelson launched his own brand of green fuel, BioWillie, a blend of diesel and biodiesel derived from soybeans. In a 2005 interview, he articulated his vision for sustainable energy, stating, “It seems like that’s good for the whole world if we can start growing our own fuel instead of starting wars over it.”

Nelson’s longstanding appreciation for marijuana is also evident in his memoir, It’s a Long Story, where he expresses, “Just as I’ve always loved robust coffee beans and the strong buzz produced by the brew, I felt the same way about cannabis. It pushed me in the right direction. It pushed me in a positive direction. It kept my head in my music. It kept my head filled with poetry.”

In 2015, this passion for cannabis led to the establishment of Willie’s Reserve, a line of marijuana products cultivated and sold in states where cannabis is legal. The company’s website notes, “For decades, as Willie Nelson and his band traveled from town to town, pot enthusiasts flocked to his shows. They happily shared the bounty from their home gardens and local communities. Willie happily returned the favor.”

Personal Life

Willie Nelson’s personal life has seen several significant relationships. He married for the first time in 1952 to Martha Matthews, with whom he had three children: Lana, Susie, and Billy. The couple divorced a decade later. He subsequently married singer Shirley Collie in 1963 and then Connie Koepke in 1971, with whom he had daughters Paula and Amy.

Nelson met Ann Marie D’Angelo (Annie) on the set of the TV movie Stagecoach, during a time when he was separated from Connie. Reflecting on his tumultuous marital history in It’s a Long Story, he writes, “My years with Connie were not noted for fidelity on my part. I don’t say that to be prideful. I say it to be truthful.” Nelson and Connie divorced in 1988, and he married D’Angelo in 1991. Together, they have two sons, Lucas and Jacob Micah, and reside in a sustainable solar-powered community in Maui, Hawaii. In a 2015 statement, Nelson remarked, “It’s love that brought Annie and me together, and it’s love that, nearly 30 years later, has kept us together. When it comes to romantic relationships, that’s a record for me. Took me damn near a lifetime to get it right.”

A&E Concert Special

On April 12, A&E premiered Willie Nelson: American Outlaw, providing viewers with an exclusive glimpse into a one-night-only tribute concert held in Nashville. The event featured a stellar lineup of performers, including George Strait, Jimmy Buffett, Chris Stapleton, Dave Matthews, Eric Church, Emmylou Harris, Jack Johnson, Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Norah Jones, and The Little Willies. Celebrating Nelson’s remarkable seven-decade career and showcasing over 200 of his albums, the two-hour special paid tribute to the legendary Texan as the creative force behind some of country music’s most iconic recordings. It featured more than 20 never-before-televised performances, exclusive interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage of Nelson alongside some of music’s biggest stars, culminating in an all-star sing-along of his classic hit “On The Road Again.”