Editing Willie Nelson (section)

==Music career==
===Beginnings (1956–1971)===
Nelson was hired by [[KVAN (AM)|KVAN]] in [[Vancouver, Washington]], and appeared frequently on a television show.{{sfn|Myers|1969|p=4}}{{sfn|Patoski|pp=74–76|2008|}} He made his first record in 1956, "[[No Place for Me]]", that included [[Leon Payne]]'s "Lumberjack" on the B-side.{{sfn|Evans|2006|p=70}} The recording failed.{{sfn|Dicair|2007|p=[{{google books|plainurl=y|id=MYMQl9dsKJEC|page=246}} 246]}} Nelson continued working as a radio announcer and singing in Vancouver clubs.{{sfn|Erlewine|1997|p=324}}
He made several appearances in a Colorado nightclub, later moving to [[Springfield, Missouri]]. After failing to land a spot on the ''[[Ozark Jubilee]]'', he started to work as a dishwasher. Unhappy with his job, he moved back to Texas. After a short time in [[Waco, Texas|Waco]], he settled in Fort Worth, and quit the music business for a year.{{sfn|Myers|1969|p=4}} He sold Bibles and vacuum cleaners door-to-door,{{sfn|Dingus|1992|p=[{{google books|plainurl=y|id=ZysEAAAAMBAJ|77|page=77}} 77]}} and eventually became a sales manager for the ''[[Encyclopedia Americana]]''.{{sfn|Myers|1969|p=5}}

After his son Billy was born in 1958, the family moved to [[Houston]], Texas. On the way, Nelson stopped by the [[Esquire Ballroom]] to sell his original songs to house band singer [[Larry Butler (producer)|Larry Butler]]. Butler refused to purchase the song "[[Mr. Record Man]]" for $10, instead giving Nelson a $50 loan to rent an apartment and a six-night job singing in the club.{{sfn|Nelson|Shrake|Shrake|2000|p=116, 117}} Nelson rented the apartment near Houston in [[Pasadena, Texas]], where he also worked at the radio station as the sign-on disc jockey. During this time, he recorded two singles for [[Pappy Daily]] on [[D Records]]{{sfn|Smith|2013}} "[[Man With the Blues]]"/"The Storm Has Just Begun" and "[[What a Way to Live (song)|What a Way to Live]]"/"Misery Mansion".{{sfn|Nelson|Shrake|Shrake|2000|p=117}} Nelson then was hired by guitar instructor Paul Buskirk to work as an instructor in his school. He sold "[[Family Bible (song)|Family Bible]]" to Buskirk for $50 and "[[Night Life (Willie Nelson song)|Night Life]]" for $150.{{sfn|Nelson|Shrake|Shrake|2000|p=118}} "Family Bible" turned into a hit for [[Claude Gray]] in 1960.{{sfn|Patoski|p=102|2008}}

{{Listen |type=music |filename=Hello Walls.ogg|title="Hello Walls" |description=Written by Willie Nelson, "Hello Walls", was a hit for Faron Young in 1961, and the song that gave Nelson national recognition as a songwriter. He recorded the song for his debut album ''...&nbsp;And Then I Wrote''.}}

Nelson moved to [[Nashville, Tennessee]], in 1960, but was unable to find a label to sign him. During this period he often spent time at [[Tootsie's Orchid Lounge]], a bar near the Grand Ole Opry frequented by the show's stars and other singers and songwriters.{{sfn|Richmond|2000|p=36}} There Nelson met [[Hank Cochran]], a songwriter who worked for the publishing company Pamper Music, owned by Ray Price and Hal Smith. Cochran heard Nelson during a jam session with [[Buddy Emmons]] and Jimmy Day. Cochran had just earned a raise of $50 a week, but convinced Smith to pay Nelson the money instead to sign him to Pamper Music. On hearing Nelson sing "Hello Walls" at Tootsie's, [[Faron Young]] decided to record it.{{sfn|Kosser|2006|p=[{{google books|plainurl=y|id=DL6gHNXWToQC|page=73}} 73]}} After Ray Price recorded Nelson's "Night Life", and his previous bassist [[Johnny Paycheck]] quit, Nelson joined Price's touring band as a bass player. While playing with Price and the [[Cherokee Cowboys]], his songs became hits for other artists, including "[[Funny How Time Slips Away]]" ([[Billy Walker (singer)|Billy Walker]]), "[[Pretty Paper (song)|Pretty Paper]]" ([[Roy Orbison]]), and, most famously, "[[Crazy (Willie Nelson song)|Crazy]]" by [[Patsy Cline]].{{sfn|Erlewine|1997|p=324}} Nelson and Cochran also met Cline's husband, [[Charlie Dick]] at Tootsie's. Dick liked a song of Nelson's he heard on the bar's jukebox. Nelson played him a demo tape of "Crazy". Later that night Dick played the tape for Cline, who decided to record it.{{sfn|Patoski|2008|p=6}} "Crazy" became the biggest [[jukebox]] hit of all time.{{sfn|NPR staff|1996}}

[[File:Willie Nelson Grand Ole Opry publicity - cropped.jpg|upright|thumb|Nelson performing on a [[Grand Ole Opry]] package show in 1965]]
Nelson signed with [[Liberty Records]] and was recording by August 1961 at the [[Bradley Studios]] in Nashville. His first two successful singles as an artist were released by the next year, including "[[Willingly]]" (a duet with his soon-to-be second wife, [[Shirley Collie Nelson|Shirley Collie]], which became his first charting single and first Top Ten at No.&nbsp;10) and "[[Touch Me (Willie Nelson song)|Touch Me]]" (his second Top Ten, stalling at No.&nbsp;7).{{sfn|Edwards|Callahan|2001}} Nelson's tenure at Liberty yielded his first album entitled ''[[...And Then I Wrote]]'', released in September 1962.{{sfn|Bush|Mitchell|2007|p=79}} In 1963 Collie and Nelson were married in [[Las Vegas]]. He then worked on the west coast offices of Pamper Records, in [[Pico Rivera, California]]. Since the job did not allow him the time to play music of his own, he left it and bought a ranch in [[Ridgetop, Tennessee]], outside of Nashville.{{sfn|Myers|1969|p=5}} [[Fred Foster]] of [[Monument Records]] signed Nelson in early 1964, but only one single was released: "I Never Cared For You".{{sfn|Scobey|p=190|1982}}

By the fall of 1964, Nelson had moved to [[RCA Victor]] at the behest of [[Chet Atkins]], signing a contract for $10,000 per year.{{sfn|Reid|2004|p=[{{google books|plainurl=y|id=qCDF5fFuBT8C|224|page=224}} 224]}} ''[[Country Willie – His Own Songs]]'' became Nelson's first RCA Victor album, recorded in April 1965. That same year he joined the [[Grand Ole Opry]],{{sfn|Patoski|p=Nashville, 1960|2008|}} and he met and became friends with [[Waylon Jennings]] after watching one of his shows in [[Phoenix, Arizona]].{{sfn|Nelson|Shrake|Shrake|2000|p=158}} In 1967, he formed his backing band "The Record Men", featuring Johnny Bush, [[Jimmy Day]], [[Paul English (drummer)|Paul English]] and David Zettner.{{sfn|Bush|Mitchell|2007|pp=137–138}} During his first few years on RCA Victor, Nelson had no significant hits, but from November 1966 through March 1969, his singles reached the Top 25 in a consistent manner. "One in a Row" (#19, 1966), "The Party's Over" (#24 during a 16-week chart run in 1967), and his cover of [[Morecambe & Wise]]'s "Bring Me Sunshine" (#13, March 1969) were Nelson's best-selling records during his time with RCA.{{sfn|Dicair|2007|p=[{{google books|plainurl=y|id=MYMQl9dsKJEC|page=246}} 246]}}

By 1970, most of Nelson's songwriting royalties were invested in tours that did not produce significant profits. In addition to the problems in his career, Nelson divorced Shirley Collie in 1970. In December, his ranch in Ridgetop, Tennessee, burned down. He interpreted the incident as a signal for a change. He moved to a ranch near [[Bandera, Texas]], and married Connie Koepke. In early 1971 his single "I'm a Memory" reached the top 30.{{sfn|Kienzle|2003|p=[{{google books|plainurl=y|id=Gq2TTa6TStkC|page=248}} 248]}} After he recorded his final RCA single, "Mountain Dew" (backed with "Phases, Stages, Circles, Cycles and Scenes"), in late April 1972, RCA requested that Nelson renew his contract ahead of schedule, with the implication that RCA would not release his latest recordings if he did not.{{sfn|Reid|2004|p=[{{google books|plainurl=y|id=qCDF5fFuBT8C|page=223}} 223]}} Due to the failure of his albums, and particularly frustrated by the reception of ''[[Yesterday's Wine]]'', although his contract was not over, Nelson decided to retire from music.{{sfn|Nelson|Shrake|Shrake|2000|p=167}}

===Outlaw country and success (1972–1989)===
Nelson moved to [[Austin, Texas]], where the burgeoning hippie music scene (see [[Armadillo World Headquarters]]) rejuvenated the singer. His popularity in Austin soared as he played his own brand of country music marked by country, folk and jazz influences.{{sfn|Reid|Sahm|2010|p=[{{google books|plainurl=y|id=1gry61absiEC|page=79}} 79]}} In March, he performed on the final day of the ''Dripping Springs Reunion'', a three-day country music festival aimed by its producers to be an annual event. Despite the failure to reach the expected attendance, the concept of the festival inspired Nelson to create the ''[[Willie Nelson's Fourth of July Picnic|Fourth of July Picnic]]'', his own annual event, starting the following year.{{sfn|Thomas|2012}}

Nelson decided to return to the recording business; he signed Neil Reshen as his manager to negotiate with RCA, who got the label to agree to end his contract upon repayment of $14,000.{{sfn|Reid|2004|p=[{{google books|plainurl=y|id=qCDF5fFuBT8C|page=223}} 223]}} Reshen eventually signed Nelson to [[Atlantic Records]] for $25,000 per year, where he became the label's first country artist.{{sfn|Reid|2004|p=[{{google books|plainurl=y|id=qCDF5fFuBT8C|224|page=224}}]}} He formed his backing band, ''[[Family (Willie Nelson's band)|The Family]]'',{{sfn|Milner|p=[{{google books|plainurl=y|id=zeslYkOZIvUC|page=183}} 183], [{{google books|plainurl=y|id=zeslYkOZIvUC|184|page=184}} 184]|1998}} and, by February 1973, he was recording his acclaimed ''[[Shotgun Willie]]'' at Atlantic Studios in New York City.{{sfn|Harden|Hoekstra|McCall|Morris|1996|p=169}}

{{Listen |type=music |filename=Shotgun Willie.ogg|title="Shotgun Willie introduction" |description=Introduction of the song "Shotgun Willie", opening track of the album ''[[Shotgun Willie]]'', that marked a change of style from Nelson's earlier recordings.}}
''Shotgun Willie'', released in May 1973, earned excellent reviews but did not sell well. The album led Nelson to a new style, later stating that ''Shotgun Willie'' had "cleared his throat".{{sfn|Tichi|1998|p=341}} His next release, ''[[Phases and Stages]]'', released in 1974, was a concept album about a couple's divorce, inspired by his own experience. Side one of the record is from the viewpoint of the woman, and side two is from the viewpoint of the man.{{sfn|Erlewine|2007}} The album included the hit single "[[Bloody Mary Morning]]".{{sfn|Dicair|2007|p=[{{google books|plainurl=y|id=MYMQl9dsKJEC|page=247}} 247]}} The same year, he produced and starred in the pilot episode of [[PBS]]' ''[[Austin City Limits]]''.{{sfn|Richmond|2000|p=75}}

Nelson then moved to [[Columbia Records]], where he signed a contract that gave him complete creative control, made possible by the critical and commercial success of his previous albums.{{sfn|Dicair|2007|p=[{{google books|plainurl=y|id=MYMQl9dsKJEC|247|page=247}} 247]}} The result was the critically acclaimed and massively popular 1975 concept album ''[[Red Headed Stranger]]''. Although Columbia was reluctant to release an album with primarily a guitar and piano for accompaniment, Nelson and Waylon Jennings insisted. The album included a cover of [[Fred Rose (songwriter)|Fred Rose]]'s 1945 song "[[Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain]]", that had been released as a single previous to the album, and became Nelson's first number one hit as a singer.{{sfn|Wolff|Duane|2000|p=[{{google books|plainurl=y|id=3Jorozp1yp4C|page=367}} 367]}} Throughout his 1975 tour, Nelson raised funds for PBS-affiliated stations across the south promoting ''Austin City Limits''. The pilot was aired first on those stations, later being released nationwide. The positive reception of the show prompted PBS to order ten episodes for 1976, formally launching the show.{{sfn|Richmond|2000|p=76}}

[[Image:Kris Willie Waylon.jpg|thumb|left|L–R: [[Kris Kristofferson]], Nelson, and [[Waylon Jennings]] at the 1972 ''[[Dripping Springs Reunion]]''|alt=Three men. From left to right, the first man has brown hair and beard. He wears a blue T-shirt and a white jacket and is looking at the man in the middle. The man in the middle wears a green cap and shades, and long red hair. He wears a brown T-shirt. The man at the right has brown hair, he looks at the man at the middle. He wears a white shirt and a black letter jacket.]]

As Jennings was also achieving success in country music in the early 1970s, the pair were combined into a genre called [[outlaw country]], since it did not conform to Nashville standards.{{sfn|Hartman|2008|p=[{{google books|plainurl=y|id=d3vlqWvTDfgC|174|page=174}} 174]}} The album ''[[Wanted! The Outlaws]]'' in 1976 with [[Jessi Colter]] and [[Tompall Glaser]] cemented the pair's outlaw image and became country music's first [[Music recording certification|platinum album]].{{sfn|Hartman||2008|p=[{{google books|plainurl=y|id=d3vlqWvTDfgC|175|page=175}} 175]}} Later that year Nelson released ''[[The Sound in Your Mind]]'' (certified gold in 1978 and platinum in 2001){{sfn|RIAA staff|2010}} and his first gospel album ''[[The Troublemaker (album)|Troublemaker]]''{{sfn|Erlewine|2008}} (certified gold in 1986).{{sfn|RIAA staff 2|2010}}

In the summer of 1977, Nelson discovered that Reshen had been filing tax extensions and not paying the [[Internal Revenue Service]] (IRS) since he took over as his manager.{{sfn|Nelson|Ritz|2015|p=263}} In June, a package containing cocaine was sent from Reshen's office in New York to Jennings in Nashville.{{sfn|Nelson|Ritz|2015|p=262}} The package was followed by the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]], and Jennings was arrested. The charges were later dropped, since Reshen's assistant, Mark Rothbaum, stepped in and took the charges. Rothbaum was sentenced to serve time in jail. Impressed by his attitude, Nelson fired Reshen and hired Rothbaum as his manager.{{sfn|Nelson|Ritz|2015|p=263}} In 1978, Nelson released two more platinum albums. One, ''[[Waylon & Willie]]'', was a collaboration with Jennings that included "[[Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys]]", a hit single written and performed by [[Ed Bruce]].{{sfn|Jennings|Kaye|p=10|1996}} Though observers predicted that ''[[Stardust (Willie Nelson album)|Stardust]]'' would ruin his career, it went platinum the same year.{{sfn|RIAA staff 3|2010}} Nelson continued to top the charts with hit songs during the late 1970s, including "[[Good Hearted Woman (song)|Good Hearted Woman]]", "Remember Me",{{sfn|Billboard|1976}} "[[If You've Got the Money I've Got the Time]]", and "[[Uncloudy Day]]".{{sfn|Tribe|2006|p=188}}

{{Listen |type=music |filename=On the Road Again.ogg|title="On the Road Again" |description=From the album ''Honeysuckle Rose'', "On the Road Again" peaked at number one on the [[Hot Country Songs]] chart in 1980.}}
During the 1980s, Nelson recorded a series of hit singles including "[[Midnight Rider]]", a 1980 cover of the [[Allman Brothers]] song which Nelson recorded for ''[[The Electric Horseman]]'',{{sfn|Harrison, Thomas|2011|p=96}} the soundtrack "[[On the Road Again (Willie Nelson song)|On the Road Again]]" from the movie ''[[Honeysuckle Rose (film)|Honeysuckle Rose]]'', and a duet with [[Julio Iglesias]] titled "[[To All the Girls I've Loved Before]]".{{sfn|Jurek|2008}}

[[File:President Jimmy Carter with Willie Nelson and his guests.jpg|thumb|right|Nelson and guests with President [[Jimmy Carter]] in 1978]]
In 1982, ''[[Pancho & Lefty (album)|Pancho & Lefty]]'', a duet album with [[Merle Haggard]] produced by [[Chips Moman]], was released.{{sfn|Monkman|2008}} During the recording sessions of ''Pancho and Lefty'', Johnny Christopher, a session guitarist and the co-writer of "[[Always on My Mind]]", tried to pitch the song to an uninterested Haggard. Nelson, who was unaware of [[Elvis Presley]]'s version of the song, asked him to record it. Produced by Moman, the single of the song was released, as well as the album [[Always on My Mind (Willie Nelson album)|''Always on My Mind'']]. The single topped ''Billboard''{{'}}s Hot Country Singles, while it reached number five on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The release won three awards during the [[25th Annual Grammy Awards]]: [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]], [[Grammy Award for Best Country Song|Best Country Song]] and [[Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance|Best Male Country Vocal Performance]]. The single was certified platinum, while the album was certified quadruple-platinum and later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008.{{sfn|Poe|p=147|2012}}

Meanwhile, two collaborations with Waylon Jennings were released: ''[[WWII (album)|WWII]]'' in 1982,{{sfn|Erlewine|2005}} and ''[[Take It to the Limit (Willie Nelson album)|Take it to the Limit]]'' in 1983. In the mid-1980s, Nelson, Jennings, Kristofferson, and [[Johnny Cash]] formed [[The Highwaymen (country supergroup)|The Highwaymen]], a supergroup who achieved platinum record sales and toured the world.{{sfn|Patoski|2008|p=383}} Meanwhile, Nelson became more involved with charity work, such as singing on "[[We Are the World]]" in 1984.{{sfn|Edwards|2015}} In 1985, Nelson had another success with ''[[Half Nelson (Willie Nelson album)|Half Nelson]]'', a compilation album of duets with a range of artists such as [[Ray Charles]] and [[Neil Young]].{{sfn|Patoski|2008|p=368}} In 1980, Nelson performed on the south lawn of the [[White House]]. The concert of September 13 featured First Lady [[Rosalynn Carter]] and Nelson in a duet of [[Ray Wylie Hubbard]]'s "Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother". Nelson frequently visited the White House, where, according to the biography by Joe Nick Patoski, ''Willie Nelson: An Epic Life'', he smoked marijuana on the White House roof.{{sfn|Patoski|p=342|2008}}

=== Later career (1990s–2000s) ===
In 1996, Nelson re-recorded the tracks "[[Hello Walls]]" with the band [[the Reverend Horton Heat]], and "[[Bloody Mary Morning]]" with the [[Supersuckers]], for 
<!-- Note:  This anchor is for a redirect from [[Twisted Willie]] --> 
{{anchor|Twisted_Willie}}
''Twisted Willie'', a tribute album featuring rock versions of Nelson's songs performed by artists such as [[Johnny Cash]], [[Kris Kristofferson]], [[Jerry Cantrell]], [[Mark Lanegan]], [[L7 (band)|L7]], [[The Presidents of the United States of America (band)|the Presidents of the United States of America]], and [[Jello Biafra]], among others.{{sfn|Hochman|1996}} Proceeds from the sale of the record went to Nelson's Farm Aid.<ref>Liner notes, ''Twisted Willie''. Justice Records. 1996.</ref>

[[File:President Bill Clinton greets Willie Nelson.jpg|thumb|Nelson with President [[Bill Clinton]] in 1993|left]]

During the 1990s and 2000s, Nelson toured continuously, recording several albums including 1998's critically acclaimed ''[[Teatro (Willie Nelson album)|Teatro]]'',{{sfn|Patoski|2008|p=430}} and performed and recorded with other acts including [[Phish]],{{sfn|Farm Aid Staff|2011}} Johnny Cash,{{sfn|Erlewine|2000}} and [[Toby Keith]]. His duet with Keith, "[[Beer for My Horses]]", was released as a single and topped the ''[[Billboard magazine|Billboard]]'' Hot Country Songs charts for six consecutive weeks in 2003,{{sfn|BMI staff|2003}} while the accompanying video won an award for "Best Video" at the 2004 [[Academy of Country Music]] Awards.{{sfn|Biography staff|2011}} A [[USA Network]] television special celebrated Nelson's 70th birthday,{{sfn|Pareles|2003}} and Nelson released ''[[The Essential Willie Nelson]]'' as part of the celebration. Nelson also appeared on [[Ringo Starr]]'s 2003 album, ''[[Ringo Rama]]'', as a guest vocal on "Write One for Me".{{sfn|Entertainment One staff|2003}}

Nelson was featured on the album [[True Love (Toots & the Maytals album)|''True Love'']] by [[Toots and the Maytals]], which won the [[Grammy Award]] in 2004 for Best Reggae Album, and showcased many notable musicians including [[Eric Clapton]], [[Jeff Beck]], [[Trey Anastasio]], [[Gwen Stefani]], and [[Keith Richards]].{{sfn|Toots and the Maytals|2016}} In the following year of 2005, Nelson released a [[reggae]] album entitled ''[[Countryman (album)|Countryman]]'' which featured [[Toots Hibbert]] of [[Toots and the Maytals]] on the song "I'm a Worried Man".{{sfn|Deusner|2005}}

Nelson headlined the 2005 Tsunami Relief Austin to Asia concert to benefit the victims of the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake]], which raised an estimated $75,000 for UNICEF.{{sfn|BBC News staff|2005}} Also in 2005, a live performance of the Johnny Cash song "[[Busted (Johnny Cash song)|Busted]]" with Ray Charles was released on Charles' duets album ''[[Genius & Friends]]''. Nelson's 2007 performance with jazz trumpeter [[Wynton Marsalis]] at the [[Lincoln Center]], was released as the live album ''[[Two Men with the Blues]]'' in 2008; reaching number one in ''Billboard''{{'}}s Top Jazz Albums and number twenty on the ''Billboard'' 200.{{sfn|Nelson|Ritz|2015|p=360}} The same year, Nelson recorded his first album with [[Buddy Cannon]] as the producer, ''[[Moment of Forever]]''. Cannon acquainted Nelson earlier, during the production of his collaboration with [[Kenny Chesney]] on the duet "[[That Lucky Old Sun]]", for Chesney's album ''[[Lucky Old Sun]]''.{{sfn|Cooper|2014}} In 2009 Nelson and Marsalis joined with Norah Jones in a tribute concert to Ray Charles, which resulted in the ''[[Here We Go Again: Celebrating the Genius of Ray Charles]]'' album, released in 2011.{{sfn|Willie Nelson.com staff|2011}}

===2010s===

In 2010, Nelson released ''[[Country Music (Willie Nelson album)|Country Music]]'', a compilation of standards produced by [[T-Bone Burnett]].{{sfn|Evans-Price|2010}} The album peaked number four in ''Billboard''{{'}}s Top Country Albums, and twenty on the ''Billboard'' 200.{{sfn|Erlewine|2010}} It was nominated for Best Americana Album at the [[53rd Annual Grammy Awards|2011 Grammy Awards]].{{sfn|CBS Music staff|2011}} In 2011 Nelson participated in the concert ''Kokua For Japan'', a fund raising event for the victims of the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami]] in Japan which raised $1.6&nbsp;million.{{sfn|Sugimoto|2011}}

In February 2012, [[Legacy Recordings]] signed a deal with Nelson that included the release of new material, as well as past releases that would be selected and complemented with outtakes and other material selected by him.{{sfn|Willie Nelson.com staff|2012}} With the new deal, Buddy Cannon returned to produce the recordings of Nelson. After selecting the material and the sound of the tunes with the singer, Cannon's work method consisted in the recording of the tracks with studio musicians, with the takes later completed on a separate session by Nelson with his guitar. Cannon's association to Nelson also extended to songwriting, with singer and producer composing the lyrics by exchanging text messages.{{sfn|Cooper|2014}}

Nelson's first release for the Legacy Recordings was ''[[Heroes (Willie Nelson album)|Heroes]]'', that included guest appearances by his sons [[Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real|Lukas]] and Micah of the band [[Insects vs Robots]], Ray Price, Merle Haggard, [[Snoop Dogg]], Kris Kristofferson, [[Jamey Johnson]], [[Billy Joe Shaver]] and [[Sheryl Crow]]. The album reached number four on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''{{'}}s [[Billboard charts|Top Country Albums]].{{sfn|Billboard staff|2012}} His 2013 release ''[[To All the Girls...]]'', a collection of duets with all female partners, featured among others [[Dolly Parton]], [[Loretta Lynn]], [[Rosanne Cash]], Sheryl Crow, [[Mavis Staples]], Norah Jones, [[Emmylou Harris]], [[Carrie Underwood]] and [[Miranda Lambert]].{{sfn|Vinson|2013}} The album entered ''Billboard''{{'}}s Top Country Albums at number two, marking his highest position on the chart since the release of his 1989 ''A Horse Called Music'', and extending his record to a total of forty-six top ten albums on the country charts. Nelson scored as well his second top ten album on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], with the release entering at number nine.{{sfn|Jessen|2013}}

[[File:Willie Nelson, Fort Wayne, Indiana (June 27, 2018) - Pamela Smith 06.jpg|thumb|Nelson performing in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 2018]]
Nelson's following release was ''[[Band of Brothers (Willie Nelson album)|Band of Brothers]]'', in 2014, the first Nelson album to feature the most newly self-penned songs since 1996's ''[[Spirit (Willie Nelson album)|Spirit]]''. Upon its release, it topped ''Billboard''{{'}}s Top Country albums chart, the first time since 1986's ''[[The Promiseland]]'', the last Nelson album to top it. The release reached number five on the ''Billboard'' 200, Nelson's highest position on the chart since 1982's ''Always on My Mind''.{{sfn|Leahey|2014}} In December 2014, a duet with [[Rhonda Vincent]], "Only Me", topped ''[[Bluegrass Unlimited]]'s'' National Airplay chart.{{sfn|Holden|2014}} In June 2015, his collaboration with Haggard ''[[Django and Jimmie]]'' topped ''Billboard''{{'}}s Top Country albums chart and reached number seven on the ''Billboard'' 200.

In 2017, Nelson released ''[[God's Problem Child]]''. The release, consisting mostly of Nelson originals co-written with Cannon, entered the Top country albums at number one, while it reached number ten on the ''Billboard'' 200.{{sfn|Asker|2017}}

In 2018, Nelson sang a song written by [[Daniel Lanois]] called "Cruel World" for the [[Music of Red Dead Redemption 2|soundtrack]] of [[Rockstar Games]]'s action-adventure video game ''[[Red Dead Redemption 2]]''.{{sfn|Daly|2018}} Lanois wrote the song especially for Nelson. When a hurricane prevented Nelson from recording the song, the production team sent the track to [[Josh Homme]] in the hopes that he could record it in time for the game's release. Nelson was ultimately able to record the song in time in Los Angeles;{{sfn|Shanley|2019}} the team considered combining the two versions into a duet, but ultimately included both versions in the game.{{sfn|Lanois|2019}} Also in 2018, Nelson was one of several artists on ''[[Revamp & Restoration|Restoration]]'', a cover album containing various country renditions of songs originally by [[Elton John]], on which he performed "[[Border Song]]".{{sfn|Brickey|2018}} His 2019 release ''[[Ride Me Back Home]]'' charted at number two on the ''Billboard'' Top Country Albums chart.{{sfn|Asker|2019}} For the title-track, Nelson received the [[Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance]].{{sfn|Kroll|2020}}

===2020s===
Following the [[2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States#Lockdowns|U.S. coronavirus pandemic lockdowns]] that began in March 2020, Nelson [[Livestreaming|livestreamed]] a series of [[benefit concert]]s. The first two raised $700,000 for people who had suffered financial loss due to effects on the U.S. economy.{{sfn|Margolis|2020}} The third, which was held on April 20, 2020, was a variety show titled ''[[Come and Toke It]]''.{{sfn|France|2020}} Some of the content was [[Cannabis (drug)|cannabis]]-themed, and some of the proceeds will be used to support The Last Prisoner Project, a [[restorative justice]] program relating to persons convicted of cannabis related crimes.{{sfn|Rosenthal|2020}}{{sfn|Willman|2020}}{{sfn|Kreps|2020}} The same year, Nelson was approached by [[Karen O]] of [[The Yeah Yeah Yeahs]] to collaborate. They chose to perform [[David Bowie]] and [[Queen (band)|Queen]]'s [[Under Pressure]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Hear Karen O and Willie Nelson's Transformative Cover of Queen and David Bowie's 'Under Pressure' |date=October 28, 2020 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531030815/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/karen-o-willie-nelson-queen-david-bowie-cover-under-pressure-1082748/ |archive-date=May 31, 2023 |url-status=live |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/karen-o-willie-nelson-queen-david-bowie-cover-under-pressure-1082748/}}</ref>

For his releases of ''[[The Willie Nelson Family]]'' (2021) and ''[[A Beautiful Time]]'' (2022), Nelson received four nominations for the [[65th Annual Grammy Awards]] winning in two categories: Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Album.{{sfn|Cummings, Tommy|2022}}{{sfn|Farias, Robbie|2023}} In December 2022, Mark Rothbaum announced the release of a five-part documentary entitled ''Willie Nelson and Family'' released at the 2023 [[Sundance Film Festival]].{{sfn|Cummings, Tommy|2022}} In 2023, Nelson performed at two concerts at the [[Hollywood Bowl]] celebrating his 90th birthday<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Willie Nelson's 90th Birthday Concert: Weed, Well Wishes and Tons of Songs |date=April 30, 2023 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/willie-nelson-90-birthday-concert-review-set-list-1234725569/}}</ref> and was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]].{{sfn|RockHall|2023}}

In 2024, Nelson was featured in the "Smoke Hour ★ Willie Nelson" and "Smoke Hour II" interludes of [[Beyoncé]]'s ''[[Cowboy Carter]]'' album, the second album in her [[Beyoncé discography|trilogy project]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=March 28, 2024 |title=Beyoncé's ''Cowboy Carter'' Features a Beatles Cover, Miley Cyrus, and Post Malone |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/beyonces-cowboy-carter-miley-cyrus-post-malone-beatles-blackbird-1234995871/ |access-date=March 29, 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> With the death of [[Kris Kristofferson]] in September 2024, Nelson became the last surviving member of [[The Highwaymen (country supergroup)| The Highwaymen]].