Music
April 29, 2024
Willie Nelson Is Fine! He’s Trending Because It’s His Birthday.
Happy ninety-first to the Red Headed Stranger.
Willie Nelson
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1-50 of 227 Articles
Music
April 2, 2024
The Ultimate Texas Celebrity Bracket Crowns Its Champion, and the Winner Will Shock You*
*The winner will not shock you. It’s Willie Nelson.
Music
April 1, 2024
The Ultimate Texas Celebrity Bracket Championship Is Here! Cast Your Final Vote.
The two icons have cast a long shadow over the Lone Star State for more than six decades.
Film & TV
March 29, 2024
The Ultimate Texas Celebrity Bracket Final Four: From Willie to Kelly
Here they are: the showdowns you demanded.
Music
March 28, 2024
Can Willie Be Stopped? The Ultimate Texas Celebrity Bracket Is Down to Its Elite Eight
It includes Simone Biles, Kelly Clarkson, Tommy Lee Jones, Matthew McConaughey, Nolan Ryan, George Strait, and an underdog run from Kinky Friedman.
Film & TV
March 27, 2024
The Ultimate Texas Celebrity Bracket: Bring On the Sweet Sixteen!
We’ve got Willie, Beyoncé, McConaughey, Biles, and Duncan—plus Cinderella runs by Carol Burnett and Kinky Friedman.
One by Willie
March 27, 2024
Willie Nelson’s Daughter Lana on Lullabies, Landlords, and Townes Van Zandt
The unofficial family historian talks about listening to her dad sing “Red Headed Stranger” back before he’d ever even made it to Nashville.
Film & TV
March 26, 2024
The Ultimate Texas Celebrity Bracket Heats Up in Round Two
Tim Duncan’s still got it, Kacey takes on her pal Willie, and we say an early farewell to Elon.
Film & TV
March 25, 2024
Texas Monthly Is Crowning a Winner in the Ultimate Texas Celebrity Bracket. Cast Your Vote!
Which of these 64 celebs is the most beloved in the Lone Star State? This March Madness, we’re asking you to tell us.
One by Willie
March 20, 2024
Wade Bowen on Willie Nelson’s Road Anthem “Me and Paul” . . . From a Tour Bus Broke Down in Iowa
The Texas Country/Red Dirt star Zooms in to discuss Willie’s founding role in the singer-songwriters’ circuit, plus the gift of growing to love your dad’s music.
One by Willie
March 6, 2024
Susan Tedeschi on Willie Nelson and the Singular Joy of Playing in a Family Band
The Grammy-winning blues singer and guitarist on why she and her husband cover Willie almost every night with their Tedeschi Trucks Band—plus why she thinks Emmylou Harris is a Jedi.
One by Willie
February 28, 2024
Bruce Robison on What Willie Nelson’s Saddest Songs Taught Him About Songwriting, Love, and Life
The Americana stalwart discusses Phases and Stages, Willie’s lost winter in Bandera, and covering his songs with big stars like Margo Price, Sheryl Crow, and Nathaniel Rateliff.
One by Willie
February 21, 2024
Pulitzer Prize Winner Lawrence Wright on the Existential Quality of Watching Willie Nelson and Trigger Grow Old Together
The acclaimed Austin author talks pigtails, hero statues, and “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die.”
One by Willie
February 14, 2024
Booker T. Jones on Why He Recorded Willie Nelson’s ‘Stardust’ in Emmylou Harris’s Living Room
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer discusses “Georgia on My Mind”—and the highly improbable pairing and production that gave birth to Willie’s quintuple-platinum masterpiece.
One by Willie
February 7, 2024
Whoopi Goldberg Wants to Have Willie Nelson Over to Her Place for Dinner
The famed actor, author, and raconteur on why she loves “Stardust,” Leon Russell, Ray Charles, and Willie’s wife, Annie.
Film & TV
February 6, 2024
Why a German First-time Filmmaker Spent a Decade Making a Comedy About Willie Nelson
For ‘Willie and Me,’ Eva Hassmann enlisted an Elvis impersonator, Peter Bogdanovich, and Willie himself to tell a story of how Willie’s music crosses cultures.
One by Willie
January 31, 2024
Nick Offerman Believes Willie Nelson Is One of the Finest Americans Who Ever Lived
The ‘Parks and Recreation’ star on “Buddy,” Farm Aid, and how a hippie like Willie became Ron Swanson’s favorite poet.
Music
December 21, 2023
Five Things We Learned From the New Willie Nelson Docuseries
Even Willie completists will likely find a few new nuggets in the Paramount Plus series ‘Willie Nelson & Family.’
Film & TV
October 18, 2023
Four Reasons November Will Be a Great Month in Texas Culture
A Texas legend finally gets top billing, Willie spills on his songs, the Black Pumas return, and Sugar Land hosts Honeyland.
Music
September 14, 2023
For Willie Nelson’s 151st Album, He Takes On a Whole New Genre: Bluegrass
A supergroup of strings player helps take a mix of Willie anthems and deep cuts to a whole new, banjo-picking level.
One by Willie
August 25, 2023
Dave Cobb on the Beautiful, Barren Landscape of Willie Nelson’s ‘Red Headed Stranger’
The Nashville superproducer on “Time of the Preacher” and the one thing artists like Brandi Carlile and Jason Isbell all say about Willie.
One by Willie
July 28, 2023
The Story Behind Sinéad O’Connor’s Duet with Willie Nelson
It was October 1992 and the Irish singer, who died earlier this week, was being excoriated in the press following her appearance on ‘Saturday Night Live.’
One by Willie
July 14, 2023
Foo Fighter Chris Shiflett on the Unlikely Intersection of Willie, Waylon Jennings, “Good Hearted Woman,” and Kiss’s ‘Alive II’
The Foos’ lead guitarist and ‘Shred With Shifty’ podcast host discusses an outlaw anthem and the technical specs of a great Willie guitar solo.
One by Willie
June 23, 2023
Amanda Shires Pays Tribute to Her Hero and Friend Bobbie Nelson
The singer-songwriter and virtuoso fiddle player talks faith, family bands, and her new album of duets with Willie Nelson’s late sister.
One by Willie
June 16, 2023
Willie Nelson’s Son Micah on Trigger, Roger Miller, and “Still Is Still Moving to Me”
On this special Father’s Day episode, Micah Nelson describes his dad’s “face-melting” guitar playing, plus his favorite sixties-era Willie song that most fans have forgotten.
One by Willie
June 9, 2023
Brené Brown on the Way Willie Nelson’s Version of “Amazing Grace” Changed Her Life
The revered researcher, author, and TED Talker discusses faith, grace, acceptance, and the world’s favorite gospel hymn.
One by Willie
June 2, 2023
Daniel Lanois on Recording Willie Nelson’s Landmark Album ‘Teatro’
The legendary producer discusses art that exists only in shadows and the way U2 tries to summon Willie when they write songs.
One by Willie
May 26, 2023
Ray Wylie Hubbard on “Whiskey River,” Strong Weed, and Willie Nelson’s Smile
The legendary singer-songwriter and longtime Willie buddy discusses a song many consider the national anthem of Texas, plus why drummer Paul English was not a fan of the Eagles.
Music
May 1, 2023
Willie Nelson Threw a Ninetieth Birthday Party, and Everyone Came
Snoop Dogg, the Chicks, Keith Richards, George Strait, and many, many more came together for a two-day birthday party the likes of which the world has never seen.
Music
April 28, 2023
Willie Nelson Is Helping Billy Strings Stay “California Sober” on a New Duet
The living legend and the bluegrass young gun unroll a pot-smoking, finger-picking good time.
One by Willie
April 27, 2023
Willie Nelson’s Son Lukas on Ancient Texts, Pearl Jam, and “I Never Cared for You”
On this special birthday episode, Lukas Nelson talks about truly timeless songwriting—and the song that first made Leon Russell a Willie fan.
Music
March 9, 2023
Willie Nelson’s Faithful Rendition of a Harlan Howard Classic
A deep dive into Nelson’s cover of “I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail,” from his 150th album, ‘I Don’t Know a Thing About Love.’
Music
March 2, 2023
Willie Nelson’s New Album—His 150th—Honors Another Country Legend
Willie Nelson covers ten songs written by his late friend Harlan Howard in ‘I Don’t Know a Thing About Love.’
Music
February 7, 2023
Does Willie Nelson Belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
A debate between Andy Langer, Dan Solomon—and Ice Cube?
Music
February 6, 2023
Beyoncé Still Can’t Win Album of the Year, and Other Things We Learned From the Grammys
A bittersweet night for Queen Bey, a momentous night for Lizzo and Willie Nelson, and a confusing one for Chris Brown.
Texas Icons
January 17, 2023
We Asked Four Singers (and Ethan Hawke) Which Willie Nelson Songs They Love Most
Here’s what Steve Earle, Vince Gill, Margo Price, Kacey Musgraves, and the Austin-born actor told us to cue up—and why.
Texas Icons
January 17, 2023
More Than 600 Episodes in, ‘Austin City Limits’ Is Still an Austin Show at Heart
Decades after Willie Nelson performed on the pilot, the show is now a national institution—but not too national.
Music
November 15, 2022
Four Questions We Have About the Grammy Nominations
Will Beyoncé finally get her Album of the Year award, and more we want to know.
One by Willie
September 15, 2022
Weyes Blood on Willie Nelson, Frank Sinatra, Lindsey Buckingham, and Kurt Weill’s “September Song”
It’s a song the California-based singer-songwriter has loved since she was a young girl—but she didn’t really get to know it until she heard Willie’s version.
One by Willie
September 1, 2022
Steve Gunn on Django Reinhardt, Trigger, and Willie Nelson’s “Hands on the Wheel”
The Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter and virtuoso guitarist celebrates two of the greatest players he’s ever heard.
One by Willie
June 22, 2022
Buddy Cannon on Taking Life Lessons From Willie Nelson Songs
Willie’s longtime producer and writing partner talks about how “Something You Get Through” came together and the way Willie changed country songwriting.
One by Willie
June 15, 2022
Ethan Hawke on Visions of the Divine and Willie Nelson’s Earlobes
The four-time Oscar nominee talks “Too Sick to Pray” and the way Willie’s music has helped him build his family.
One by Willie
June 8, 2022
Norah Jones on How Willie Nelson Songs Saved Her When She Moved to New York
The nine-time Grammy winner talks “Permanently Lonely,” jazzy Django chords, and Willie’s beautifully harsh poetry.
One by Willie
June 1, 2022
How a Legendary R&B Band Helped Willie Nelson Cut His Best Album
Muscle Shoals bass player David Hood on ‘Phases and Stages,’ producer Jerry Wexler, and “(How Will I Know) I’m Falling in Love Again.”
One by Willie
May 25, 2022
Nathaniel Rateliff on Willie Nelson’s “A Song for You,” Leon Russell, and Biker Funerals
The Americana singer-songwriter discusses one of Willie’s first iconic cover songs.
One by Willie
May 18, 2022
Mickey Raphael on How Willie Nelson Songs Are Cheaper—and More Effective—Than Therapy
Willie’s longtime harmonica player discusses joining the band, stowaways on the bus, and “The Words Don’t Fit the Picture.”
One by Willie
May 11, 2022
Jimmy Webb on Writing “Highwayman” and the Birth of Country Music’s First Supergroup
One of America’s greatest songwriters talks Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, and Willie Nelson . . . and the surprising debt they owe “My Sharona.”
One by Willie
May 4, 2022
Vince Gill on Willie Nelson’s “Healing Hands of Time” and Finding Salvation in Song
The 22-time Grammy winner talks faith, Ray Price, and the power of an irresistible first line in a lyric.
Music
April 29, 2022
Willie Turns 89—And Drops a Beautiful Album
‘A Beautiful Time’ picks up where his "mortality trilogy" of albums left off, with an especially off-the-wall cover and new songs reflecting on life and death.
One by Willie
April 20, 2022
Kacey Musgraves on Making “Real-Ass” Country Music With Willie Nelson
The singer-songwriter talks about “Are You Sure,” getting her granddad into Willie’s poker game, and a gift Willie gave her that she’ll never smoke.