At 93 years old, country music legend Willie Nelson remains a fixture in the industry, though he prefers to keep his focus firmly on the future rather than dwelling on his storied past. His publicist notes that Nelson avoids discussing historical milestones, such as his vast catalog of over 150 albums, his work with the supergroup The Highwaymen, or the spontaneous creation of his hit “On the Road Again” on an airplane sick bag. Instead, the focus for the icon remains on his current touring schedule and his ventures in the cannabis industry. B efore the interview, Willie Nelson’s publicist warns me that there’s only one thing the 93-year-old country music legend doesn’t like to discuss: the past. The supergroup he formed with Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings; writing On the Road Again on an aeroplane sick bag, which rules out talking about the 150-plus albums he’s made; the Highwaymen. It also rules out talking about paying off a $32m tax bill with a double album called The IRS Tapes; co-founding Farm Aid with Neil Young and John Mellencamp; taking $40,000 off Woody Harrelson in a single poker session; or breaking up a massive brawl in a parking lot with two Colt 45s before signing autographs for cops. The publicist tells me my chat with Willie will be one of my life’s highlights, after an extensive vetting process. We normally ask a minimum of an hour for an interview. He has a wonderful Carver-esque ability to tell pared-down stories in song (the concept album Red Haired Stranger is about a heartbroken preacher exacting revenge on his wife and her lover). Made famous by Patsy Cline, is one of the great songs about anguished love), few songwriters have ever written with such raw emotion (Crazy. According to or such stoner humour (the title Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die, It all). Also called The Last Leaf, in which he relates conversations with beloved collaborators who have recently died and recounts stories from his life so minimalist, they barely take up a paragraph, now he has written a memoir. But am told he prefers the more traditional way of talking across continents, so we opt for the phone, i suggest that we Zoom. Though a little smokier these days, his voice is as honeyed when speaking as singing. You know, a couple of people wanted me to do it, i tell him how much I like the book and ask why he wrote it. “Well. The publicist offers 10 minutes. According to when Willie has, All he wants to say, he comes to an easy stop and waits. Don’t push it, don’t overplan; if it’s going to be, it’s going to be, what he means is once you know what you’d like from life. If not, life will take another course. He clarified that he was still consuming the cannabis chemicals THC (to get high) and CBD (to fix his aches and pains) in food and drink. “I had a lung collapse, so I have to be really careful, but to stop us worrying.
Nelson’s latest memoir, “The Last Leaf,” offers a rare glimpse into the mind of a man who describes himself as someone of few words, preferring to spend his time with friends playing poker or dominoes. In his current home in Maui, Hawaii, he maintains a steady presence despite the decades of rigorous touring and personal challenges he faced early in his career. When asked about the secret to his remarkable longevity, Nelson cites a personal philosophy: “Imagine what you want and then get out of the way. And make sure that what you’re asking for is what you actually want.” And what does that primarily consist of, I ask. Then there’s the way he duets so ego-lessly with any number of greats (Ray Charles, Dolly Parton, Snoop Dogg), and his extraordinary longevity.
His journey has been anything but conventional. Nelson candidly admits that he engaged in self-destructive behavior for years, stating, “I did everything wrong. If it was wrong, I did it. And if it was really wrong, I did it twice.” He acknowledges a history of excessive drinking and smoking, as well as the use of various pills. By 1978, he had stopped drinking alcohol entirely, having previously struggled with the volatile temperament associated with his past alcohol consumption.
Health considerations eventually forced a change in his habits. At 86, Nelson stopped smoking cannabis to manage breathing complications, pneumonia, and emphysema. However, he continues to consume cannabis through edibles and other products to address persistent aches and manage his health. His business ventures, including “Willie’s Reserve” and “Willie’s Remedy,” have allowed him to extend his passion for cannabis to the public through a variety of non-smoking products, from teas to mocktails. We eventually negotiate an extra five minutes. In 2015, he and Annie launched Willie’s Reserve, with the motto “My stash is your stash”. Pneumonia and emphysema, he thought he had better call it quits, after years of dealing with breathing problems.
His musical output remains as consistent as ever, with his 79th studio album, “Dream Chaser,” arriving earlier this year as a collaboration with long-time associate Buddy Cannon. This project, much like his memoir, reflects on themes of aging and mortality. Nelson finds himself surprised by his own survival, noting that given his youthful habits, he never expected to live past the age of 21. Today, he views his career as a constant, having been actively performing for half a century.
Beyond his music, Nelson has never shied away from addressing political issues. He has been vocal in his opposition to specific policies, including the Trump administration’s immigration stance in 2018. Despite acknowledging a personal history with Donald Trump—having worked at one of the former president’s Atlantic City resorts—Nelson remains staunchly opposed to the majority of his policy efforts, a sentiment he famously expressed in his song “Vote ’Em Out.”
When questioned about his continued commitment to live performances, Nelson is clear about his motivation.
For him, performing is a core element of his existence, providing him with a sense of well-being before, during, and after he takes the stage.
As he contemplates his current standing as a cultural icon and the “last leaf on the tree,” he expresses a sense of gratitude for his enduring career and the life he has navigated.
Whether he is working on new projects or enjoying the quiet of his home in Maui, Nelson continues to approach his life with the same straightforward, grounded perspective that has defined his legendary career.
