Willie Nelson was born on April 29, 1933. Ninety-two years, more than 100 albums, dozens of films, millions of fans, and countless braids later, he’s still our red-headed stranger — a musical legend, outlaw country pioneer, and genuine American icon. In honor of his 92nd birthday, here are 92 facts about Willie Nelson you might not know, but will definitely love:
Willie wrote his first song when he was just 7 years old.
He joined his first band at the age of 10.
He picked cotton as a kid — and hated it.
Instead, he made money by singing in dance halls at 13.
His grandfather gave him his first guitar.
He’s from Abbott, Texas, population around 300.
His sister Bobbie played piano in his band for decades.
He was a disc jockey before he was a star.
“Crazy” by Patsy Cline was written by Willie.
So was “Hello Walls,” a hit for Faron Young.
He was in the U.S. Air Force for nine months.
He dropped out of Baylor University to focus on music.
He once sold Bibles and vacuum cleaners door to door.
His first album was called …And Then I Wrote.
“Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” was his first No. 1 hit.
He moved to Austin in 1972 and found his groove.
The Armadillo World Headquarters changed his life.
His 1975 album Red Headed Stranger made him a legend.
He wrote and recorded “On the Road Again” in one day.
He was a founding member of The Highwaymen.
He’s acted in over 30 movies.
He helped start Farm Aid in 1985.
He’s played every single Farm Aid concert since.
In 1990, the IRS claimed he owed $32 million in taxes.
He released The IRS Tapes to help pay them back.
He once had his guitar “Trigger” saved from being auctioned.
He smokes pot on the White House roof (or so the story goes).
He has a second-degree black belt in taekwondo.
And a fifth-degree black belt in GongKwon Yusul.
He’s a vegetarian and supports animal rights.
He founded Willie Nelson Biodiesel (aka BioWillie).
He has a street named after him in Austin.
And a life-size statue in front of Austin City Limits.
His guitar “Trigger” is over 50 years old.
He named it after Roy Rogers’ horse.
It has a giant hole in it — and over 100 signatures.
His 1978 album Stardust was predicted to flop.
It went 5x platinum.
His duet with Julio Iglesias? “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before.”
He won a Grammy for “Always On My Mind.”
He’s collaborated with Snoop Dogg and Wynton Marsalis.
He’s in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as of 2023.
He supports marijuana legalization through NORML.
He founded Willie’s Reserve, a cannabis brand.
He ran a biodiesel truck stop called Willie’s Place.
He once wrote a song for a horse named Whiskey River.
His 90th birthday show sold out the Hollywood Bowl.
He once smoked pot with Toby Keith in Amsterdam.
His son Lukas Nelson is also a critically acclaimed musician.
He’s performed at the White House for multiple presidents.
He once sang “America the Beautiful” post-9/11.
He’s released reggae, jazz, gospel, and blues records.
In 2024, he appeared on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter.
His nickname among friends? Shotgun Willie.
He helped make outlaw country cool again.
His voice is one of the most instantly recognizable in music.
He writes songs by exchanging text messages with his producer.
He’s toured in a biodiesel-powered bus called Honeysuckle Rose.
He can out-smoke, out-sing, and out-charm almost anyone.
He loves martial arts almost as much as music.
His favorite comic books were Superman and Batman.
He appeared in Miami Vice, The Simpsons, and King of the Hill.
He once owned a golf course.
He’s published multiple memoirs and one novel.
He wrote a book called Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die.
His braids once sold for $37,000.
He’s a proud member of the Texas Institute of Letters.
He’s been married four times and has eight children.
His daughter Paula and son Lukas are both musicians.
He’s performed with everyone from Ray Charles to Phish.
His voice helped make Teatro and Spirit cult classics.
In 2020, he released First Rose of Spring during lockdown.
He recorded a PSA to encourage COVID vaccinations.
His 2022 album A Beautiful Time won the Grammy for Best Country Album.
His 2023 Hollywood Bowl birthday show became a live album.
He has a road named after him in Maui.
He’s performed barefoot.
He prefers to read physical books over e-readers.
He hates flying — so he tours by bus.
He’s been friends with Dolly Parton for over 50 years.
He doesn’t believe in retirement.
He’s still writing, recording, and playing shows at 92.
He never memorizes lyrics — he lives them.
He’s the only person to headline both Farm Aid and Bonnaroo.
He released The Willie Nelson Family album with his children.
His band “The Family” is one of the longest-running in music.
He’s a fierce defender of artistic freedom.
His humor is dry, honest, and always welcome.
He always finds room on his tour bus for a poker game.
He’s said that Trigger is “the best friend I ever had.”
He once joked that his doctor told him to quit smoking marijuana — so now he vapes it.
He’s still making the world a better place, one song at a time.
