‘I’m not through with it yet’: Willie Nelson keeps living the life he loves at 92
Willie Nelson’s 90th birthday celebration at the Hollywood Bowl could have been mistaken for a retirement party.
But two years later, at 92, he’s working as much as ever. Not that retirement would look much different. The life he loves is making music with his friends, even after outliving so many dear ones.
Nelson is on the road again with Bob Dylan for the Outlaw Music Festival. It stops Friday, Sept. 19, at Alpine Valley in East Troy, Wisconsin.
Asked if he’d ever like his life to get the feature film treatment that Dylan did last year with “A Complete Unknown,” Nelson said, “I’ve heard some talk about it. But I'm not through with it yet.”
Nelson spoke to The Associated Press in a phone interview from Hawaii’s Oahu.
“Bob’s a good friend,” Nelson said. “And I’ll be glad to let him headline.”
The tour is one part of a loaded year. It leads right up to the 40th anniversary of Farm Aid, the first of which was held Sept. 22, 1985, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign. This spring, Nelson released his 77th studio album.
An all-Crowell album
Nelson has always loved singing the songs of his friends as much as, if not more than, the ones he writes himself. In 1979, he released “Willie Nelson Sings Kristofferson,” a full album of the work of his friend Kris Kristofferson, who died last year.
He has similar love for the songs of his friend Rodney Crowell. Nelson has long performed Crowell’s “Til I Gain Control Again,” which he called “one of the best country songs that I think I’ve ever heard.” Now he’s released a whole album of Crowell tunes, “Oh What a Beautiful World.”
“So far he hasn’t written one that I don’t like,” Nelson said.
The album comes on the 50th anniversary of “Red Headed Stranger,” the album that many consider Nelson’s masterpiece. A breakthrough for him at age 42, it took him from respected journeyman to beloved superstar.
Nelson said he’s already begun work on album number 78, but declines to share its direction.
Willie’s Family band, old and new
The only surviving member of the classic lineup of Nelson’s Family band is Mickey Raphael, 73, whose harmonica has duetted for decades with the Willie warble.
Bassist Bee Spears died in 2011. Guitarist and backup singer Jody Payne died in 2013. Drummer Paul English died in 2020. And Nelson’s sister, Bobbie Nelson, his only sibling and his piano player, died in 2022.
But the band he takes on the road now is just as familial in its own way. It often includes his sons Lukas and Micah. English’s brother Billy plays the drums. The son of Payne and singer Sammi Smith, Waylon Payne, plays guitar.
They collectively keep up with Nelson’s wants and whims on stage. One thing the live show never includes is a set list. He refuses to use them. Band members — and sound guys, and lighting guys — have to stay on their toes and be ready for anything.
“I’d rather play it off the top of my head, because I can read the crowd pretty good,” Nelson said. “They jump in there.”
The list-less set lately has included classics like “Whiskey River” (always the opener, no guessing to be done there) and “Bloody Mary Morning,” along with newer adoptees like Tom Waits’ “Last Leaf,” a song that perfectly expresses Nelson’s survivor status.
“I’m the last leaf on the tree,” Nelson sings in the song that leads his 2024 album of the same name. “The autumn took the rest, but it won’t take me.”
“My son Micah found that for me,” Nelson said. “I really love the song, and the audience likes it. It’s one of the real good ones.”
He’s also been performing songs written by Micah, who records and performs as Particle Boy.
One favorite, “Everything Is (expletive),” seems to stand in contrast to the gospel standards like “I'll Fly Away” and “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” that he often plays a few minutes later. Willie disagrees.
“It’s all gospel,” he says with a laugh.
Farm Aid turns 40
The 40th anniversary addition of Farm Aid, the annual festival to support family farmers that Nelson founded with Neil Young and John Mellencamp, was inspired by one-off charity concerts like “Live Aid.” It’s since become an annual institution, rotating each year to a different farm-adjacent city. It’s in Minneapolis this year.
Asked his favorite, he said, “They’ve all been good for different reasons. The first one was great, the last one was great.”
• • •
Outlaw Fest
With Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Sheryl Crow, Waxahatchee, and Madeline Edwards
When: 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19
Where: Alpine Valley Music Theatre, 2699 County Road D, East Troy, Wisconsin
Tickets: $26-$353 at ticketmaster.com/