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
Music
March 29, 2024
Willie! And Five More Texan Moments in Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’
From the nods to outlaw country tradition to the rapturous ode to denim-covered butts, this is the H-Town hero’s most Texan album yet.
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.
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
November 29, 2023
The Philadelphia Eagles Covered Willie Nelson’s “Pretty Paper” for Christmas. We Regret to Inform Cowboys Fans That It Slaps.
With Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield singing harmonies, to boot.
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 21, 2023
Waylon Payne on the Multiple Times He Credits Willie Nelson With Saving His Life
The singer-songwriter talks about growing up as country royalty and Willie’s cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now.”
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 30, 2023
Ray Benson on Bob Wills, Cindy Walker, and Willie Nelson’s Version of “Going Away Party”
The Grammy-winning founder of Asleep at the Wheel on fifty years of friendship with Willie, with cameos by George Gershwin, Floyd Tillman, and Robert Duvall.
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.’
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 18, 2022
Willie Nelson’s Latest Captures Him Performing Alongside Another Guitar Legend
‘Live at Budokan’ is a mythical lost recording of Willie at the height of his powers.
One by Willie
August 18, 2022
How a Willie Nelson Song Almost—But Not Quite—Kept Charley Crockett Out of Jail
The hard-core honky-tonker talks to us live from Luck, Texas, about “Face of a Fighter” and the other Willie songs he leaned on when he was homeless.
Music
August 17, 2022
Allison Russell, Charley Crockett, and Others Share Their Favorite Willie Nelson Songs
Creating Texas Monthly’s special podcast series ‘One By Willie: Live From Luck!’ showed me that, like Willie himself, the Luck Reunion is all about family.
The Texanist
August 16, 2022
The Texanist: Does a Texas Musician Need Three Names to Succeed?
A Fredericksburg man wonders how Willie Nelson ever prevailed in a state that brought us Ray Wylie Hubbard, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Jimmie Dale Gilmore.
One by Willie
August 4, 2022
Allison Russell on Soothing Her Newborn Daughter With Willie Nelson’s ‘Stardust’
The three-time Grammy nominee talks to us live from Luck, Texas, about definitive covers, Billie Holiday, and building her family with Willie records playing in the background.
Music
August 31, 1997
Yule Love It
The holiday season comes early for Asleep at the Wheel, who’ve just wrapped Merry Texas Christmas, Y’all (High Street/Windham Hill Records) at Austin’s Bismeaux studios. Highlights include Tish Hinojosa singing “Feliz Navidad” and Willie Nelson and Don Walser on “Silent Night.” Too homey for you? Wheel front man Ray Benson’s
Books
August 31, 1997
My Willie
Willie Nelson and I have been friends for years, so why did I decide only now to make him a character in one of my mystery novels? The plot thickens.