“Willie’s God! Willie’s God! We Love Willie!”

In this extraordinary oral history, Willie Nelson’s friends, kin, and collaborators (Jimmy Carter, Emmylou Harris, Robert Redford, Merle Haggard, and many more big names) tell their favorite stories about the Red Headed Stranger.

by Michael Hall

Faith, Hope, and Chastity

Texas receives more federal funding for abstinence education than any other state. But is teaching kids not to have sex the same as sex education?

by Katy Vine

Remains of the Day

The Texas State Cemetery, home to the final resting places of the celebrated and the notorious, is a walk through time, revealing all that is great, courageous, tragic, pompous, and absurd about Texas.

by Gary Cartwright

This Land Is His Land

Jerry Patterson’s enemies make him out to be the Grinch who sold Christmas (Mountains, that is). Of course, he couldn’t give a &$%#.

by S. C. Gwynne

Natural Beauties

Dozens of roses—and not just yellow ones—have flourished in Texas for more than a century, planted by immigrants who cherished them as sentimental reminders of home. Here are a few of our favorites.

Text by Molly Glentzer

Behind the Lines

Almost Blue

What the massive Democratic turnout says about the political landscape in Texas.

by Paul Burka

Letter From Farmers Branch

No Place Like Home

Bienvenidos a Farmers Branch, the headline-worthy Dallas suburb where the biggest hard-liner on illegal immigration could soon be known as Mr. Mayor.

by Karen Olsson

Letter From Houston

Girl, Interrupted

Houston’s most famous teenage killer is trying to reclaim her life and move on.

by Skip Hollandsworth

Kinky Friedman

The Four Questions

How would Jesus answer them? How will you?

In the Chute

A Dark Visionary

by Jordan Breal

The Horse’s Mouth

Starting a Business

Sweet Leaf Tea’s founder on starting a business.

Interview by S. C. Gwynne

The Cheap Seats

Sportswriter High

Three cheers for Sportswriter High.

by Bryan Curtis

The Working Life

Abby McAfee Daigle

As told to David A. Herron

Faith Bases

Gruene Hall

Gruene

by William Martin

The Manual

42

How to play 42.

by Andrea Valdez

Hollywood, TX

Urbane Cowboy

Julian Schnabel’s metrosexual Texanness.

by Christopher Kelly

Go

Take Me to the River

A canoe trip down the Colorado.

by Suzy Banks

Texquisite Corpse

Twin Wells

Chapter Five of “Twin Wells.”

by Will Clarke

Texas Monthly Talks

Margaret Spellings

Margaret Spellings defends No Child Left Behind.

Interview by Evan Smith

Music Review

One Hell of a Ride

Reviewed by Jeff McCord

Music Review

Troubadour

Reviewed by Jeff McCord

Music Review

Directions to See a Ghost

Reviewed by Jeff McCord

Pat’s Pick

Bolla

Dallas

by Patricia Sharpe

The Filter: Dining

New and Noteworthy

Bistro Don Camillo, Houston and August E’s, Fredericksburg

by Patricia Sharpe

Contributors

Don and Molly Glentze, Jeff Wilson, and Michael Hall

Editor’s Letter

Say Hey Willie

by Evan Smith

Roar of the Crowd

Twist of Faith

Mountain Man

Sam Gwynne and the Texas land commissioner in Big Bend.

Text by S. C. Gwynne

Bill Bishop

Interview by Mike Shea

The Music Man

A look back at Willie through the ages.

Here Lies Texas

A video tour of the Texas State Cemetery.

Behind the Lines: Podcast

Paul Burka reads “Almost Blue.”

Kinky Friedman: Podcast

Kinky Friedman reads “The Four Questions.”

Twin Wells Chapter 5: Podcast

The emerald mule read by Will Clarke.

Robert Redford

Jimmy Carter

Jerry Wexler

Norah Jones

Ray Benson

Woody Harrelson

Patty Griffin

Michael Hall

KGSR Podcast 1

KGSR Podcast 2

Whiskey River

Always on My Mind

One Hell of a Ride

Lemon Napoleon-Almond Crema-Olive Oil

From Bolla, Dallas

Garden Vegetable Risotto-Parmesan Cracker-Oregano Broth

From Bolla, Dallas