Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 30, 1933) is an American country singer-songwriter, author, poet, actor, and activist. Nelson was one of the main figures of the Outlaw Movement, a subgenre of Country music that developed between the end of 1960s and early 1980s. The critical success of the albums Shotgun Willie, Phases and Stages, and the commercial success of Red Headed Stranger made Nelson one of the most recognized artists in country music. Nelson is also recognized for his contributions to charity, he is the president and one of the founding members of Farm Aid charity concert, and his activism for the legalization of marijuana and for the use of bio-fuels.
Nelson started studying music from mail order material that his grandparents gave him. He wrote his first song at age seven and joined his first band at nine. During high school, he toured locally with the Bohemian Fiddlers as their lead singer and guitar player. After graduating from high school in 1950, he joined the Air Force. However, he was discharged due to back problems. After his return, Nelson attended Baylor University for two years but dropped out because he was succeeding in music. During this time, he worked as a disc jockey in Texas radio stations and a singer in honky tonks. Nelson moved to Vancouver, Washington, where he wrote "Family Bible" and recorded the song "Lumberjack" in 1956. In 1960, he signed a publishing contract with Pamper Music which allowed him to join Ray Price's band as a bassist. During that time, he wrote songs that would become country standards, including "Funny How Time Slips Away", "Hello Walls", "Pretty Paper", and "Crazy". In 1962, he recorded his first album, And Then I Wrote. Due to this success, Nelson signed in 1965 with RCA Victor and joined the Grand Ole Opry.
Nelson is a major liberal activist and the co-chair of the advisory board of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, which is in favor of marijuana legalization. On the environmental front, Nelson owns the bio-diesel brand Willie Nelson Biodiesel, which is made from vegetable oil. He is the co-founder and president of Farm Aid, and has been contributing to the benefit concert series since the first event in 1985, organizing concerts and performing with other prominent artists. Nelson is also the Honorary Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Texas Music Project, the official music charity of the state of Texas.
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Known For

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: 10th Anniversary Special
Self (archive footage)
2024

Willie and Me
Willie Nelson / Bones
2024

The Greatest Night in Pop
Self (archive footage)
2024

Willie Nelson & Family
Self · (4 episodes)
2023

June
Self
2023

Joke Man
Self
2023

Willie Nelson 90: Long Story Short
Self
2023

Heartbreakers at the BBC
Self (archive footage)
2023

Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas
Self
2022

2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Self (archive footage)
2022

Willie Nelson: Live at Budokan
himself
2022

Dolly Parton: A MusiCares Tribute
Self
2021

OBJECTified
Self · (1 episode)
2017

Revolution: The Legacy of the Sixties
2017

American Epic
Self · (1 episode)
2017

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self · (3 episodes)
2015

Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self · (1 episode)
2014

O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar
Self (archive footage)
2009

Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007
Self
2007

VH1 Storytellers
Self · (1 episode)
2005

Real Time with Bill Maher
Self · (3 episodes)
2003

Last Party 2000
Self
2001

Dill Scallion
Self
1999

The View
Self · (3 episodes)
1997

The Daily Show
Self · (2 episodes)
1996

Space Ghost Coast to Coast
(2 episodes)
1994

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Marshall Elias Burch · (2 episodes)
1993

Chet Atkins and Friends
1987

Willie Nelson Presents: King of the Roadies
Self

This Is Pop
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2021

Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President
Self
2020

My Darling Vivian
Self (archive footage)
2020

Willie Nelson American Outlaw
Self
2020

Waiting for the Miracle to Come
Jimmy Riggs
2019

Charley Pride: I'm Just Me
Self
2019

Willie Nelson at Austin City Limits
Self
2019

Quincy
Self
2018

Also Starring Austin
2018

Paradox
Red
2018

Pure Country: Pure Heart
Himself
2017

Lost in London
Willie Nelson
2017

The Best Democracy Money Can Buy
Self
2016

Road to Austin
2016

The Highwaymen: Friends Till the End
Self - Performer
2016

The Highwaymen - Live American Outlaws
Self
2016

The American Epic Sessions
Self
2016

Honky Tonk Heaven: Legend of the Broken Spoke
Self
2016

Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl
Self
2016

Zoolander 2
Willie Nelson
2016

Willie Nelson: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular Song
Self
2016

The Muppets
Self · (1 episode)
2015

Johnny Cash: American Rebel
Self
2015

I Am Johnny Cash
Self
2015

Country Kings at the BBC
2014

Austin City Limits Celebrates 40 Years
Self - Performer
2014

The Art of McCartney
Self
2014

All About Ann: Governor Richards of the Lone Star State
Self
2014

Willie Nelson Live @ SXSW
self
2014

Angels Sing
Nick
2013

Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon
Self
2013

We Walk The Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash
Self
2012

John Mellencamp: It's About You
Self
2012

Paul Williams Still Alive
Self (archive footage)
2011
9/11 Truth: Hollywood Speaks Up
Self
2011
I Ride
Willie Nelson
2011

The King of Luck
Himself
2011

OK Buckaroos
2010

The Greatest Ears in Town: The Arif Mardin Story
Self
2010

Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis Play the Music of Ray Charles
Himself - Vocals and Acoustic Guitar
2009
Happiness Is
Self
2009

The Obama Deception
Self
2009

Dolly Parton & Friends: Love Always Live
Self - Performer (archive footage)
2009

Merle Haggard: The Real Deal
Self
2008

A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!
Self
2008

Elvis | Viva Las Vegas
Self
2008

Surfer, Dude
Farmer Bob
2008

Beer for My Horses
Charlie
2008

Swing Vote
Willie Nelson
2008

Hempsters: Plant the Seed
Himself
2008

The King of Texas
Self
2008

Blonde Ambition
Pap Paw
2007

Opry Video Classics: Hall of Fame
Self (archive footage)
2007

Opry Video Classics : Legends
Self (archive footage)
2007

Last of the Breed: Live in Concert
Himself
2007

Jerry Lee Lewis: Last Man Standing, Live
Self
2007

The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning
Jesse Duke
2007

Glen Campbell | Good Times Again
Self
2007
Fighting With Anger
Will
2007

American Revolutions: The Highwaymen
Himself
2006

Outlaw Country: Live from Austin, TX
Compositeur, Guitare, Artiste principal, Voix
2006

Broken Bridges
self
2006

Beerfest
Self (uncredited)
2006

Celebrating the Man in Black: The Making of Walk the Line
Self
2006

Willie Nelson: Live from Austin TX
Compositeur, Guitare, Artiste principal, Voix
2006
Farm Aid: 20th Anniversary Concert
Self
2005

The Dukes of Hazzard
Uncle Jesse Duke
2005
Tootsie's Orchid Lounge: Where the Music Began
self
2005

Willie Nelson & Friends: Outlaws & Angels
Self
2004

Be Here to Love Me
Self - Musician
2004
Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company
Self
2004
CMA Music Festival
Self · (1 episode)
2004

The Big Bounce
Joe Lurie
2004
Willie Nelson - Live at Billy Bob's Texas
Self
2004

Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper Well
Self
2003

The Highwaymen: On the Road Again
Himself
2003
Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'
Self
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self - Musical Guest · (1 episode)
2003
Farm Aid 2001 - A Concert For America
Himself
2002

The Country Bears
Willie Nelson
2002

Monk
Willie Nelson · (2 episodes)
2002

The Willie Nelson Special - With Special Guest Ray Charles
Self
2002
This Land Is Your Land - Folk Years
2002

CMT Crossroads
Self · (3 episodes)
2002

America | A Tribute to Heroes
Self - Performer
2001

Willie Nelson: Live in Amsterdam
Himself
2001

The Journeyman
Samuel Hancock
2001

Kinky Friedman: Proud To Be An Asshole From El Paso
Self
2001

Willie Nelson: Greatest Hits Live
Himself
1999

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Willie Nelson
1999

A Tribute To Johnny Cash
Self - Performer
1999

Outlaw Justice
Lee Walker
1999
The Story of Darrell Royal
Self
1999

Half Baked
Historian Smoker
1998

Willie Nelson at the Teatro
Self
1998

Wag the Dog
Johnny Dean
1997

Anthem
Self
1997

Gone Fishin'
Billy 'Catch' Pooler
1997

King of the Hill
Willie Nelson (voice) · (1 episode)
1997

The Beach Boys: Nashville Sounds
Self
1996

Starlight
1996

The Rosie O'Donnell Show
Self · (1 episode)
1996

Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II
Self
1995

Big Dreams & Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story
Willie Nelson
1995

The World of Jim Henson
Self (archive footage)
1994

Dust to Dust
1994

Kris Kristofferson: His Life and Work
Self
1993

Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O
Self
1993

Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration
1993

Delta
(1 episode)
1992

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
(4 episodes)
1992

Adventures in Wonderland
The Troubadour · (1 episode)
1992
Hot Country Nights
(1 episode)
1991

Wild Texas Wind
Willie Nelson
1991

WWE WrestleMania VII
Self - National Anthem
1991

Another Pair of Aces: Three of a Kind
Billy Roy Rodriguez
1991

The Highwaymen: Live at Nassau Coliseum
Self
1990

Pair of Aces
Billy Roy Barker
1990

Waylon: Renegade. Outlaw. Legend.
Himself
1990

The Simpsons
Willie Nelson (voice) · (1 episode)
1989

Kenny, Dolly & Willie: Something Inside So Strong
Self
1989
In the Hank Williams Tradition
Self
1989

Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?
Cross
1988

Once Upon a Texas Train
John Henry Lee
1988

Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz
Willie Nelson
1988
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
Self
1988

Baja Oklahoma
Self
1988

Walking After Midnight
Self
1988

Heartbeat
Himself
1987

Red Headed Stranger
Rev. Julian Shay
1986

Stagecoach
Doc Holliday
1986

The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James
Gen. Jo Shelby
1986

We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song
Self
1985

Songwriter
Doc Jenkins
1984

Miami Vice
Texas Ranger Jake Pierson · (1 episode)
1984

The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team
1984

Hells Angels Forever
Himself
1983

Willie Nelson Live at the US Festival
Himself
1983

Playboy Video Magazine: Volume 4
Himself
1983
Willie Nelson & Family: In Concert
Himself
1983

Coming Out of the Ice
Red Loon
1982

Barbarosa
Barbarosa
1982
Willie Nelson's 90th Birthday Celebration

Champs-Elysées
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
1982

Thief
David 'Okla' Bertinneau
1981

Solid Gold
Self · (1 episode)
1980

Honeysuckle Rose
Buck
1980

The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1980
1980

The Electric Horseman
Wendell
1979
Willie Nelson's 4th of July Celebration
1979

The Kennedy Center Honors
Self · (1 episode)
1978

Mickey's 50
Self
1978

Saturday Night Live
Self - Host & Musical Guest · (1 episode)
1975

Saturday Night Live
Self - Musical Guest · (1 episode)
1975

Austin City Limits
Self · (7 episodes)
1975

A Poem Is a Naked Person
Self
1974

The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
Self · (2 episodes)
1969

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (2 episodes)
1962