Photos: Willie Nelson through the years
Country music legend Willie Nelson turns 88 today. Take a look back at highlights from his life and career, in photos.
1978: Willie Nelson
Country and western singer Willie Nelson is shown at a party celebrating a new album at the Rainbow Room in New York City, Jan. 16, 1978.
1978: Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings
Country music singers Waylon Jennings, right, and Willie Nelson are shown in New York City on Feb. 5. 1978.
1978: Willie Nelson and President Jimmy Carter
President Jimmy Carter greets Willie Nelson, left, after watching the star country and western music singer perform in a concert at the Merriweather Post Pavillion at Columbia, Md., on July 21, 1978. Nelson performed along with country western singer Many Lou Morris for the President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter who joined thousands of young people for the show.
1978: Willie Nelson and first lady Rosalynn Carter
Country music singer Willie Nelson and his children Amy, left, and Paula talk with first lady Rosalynn Carter at the White House after Nelson performed for members of the NASCAR in Washington, D.C., Sept. 23, 1978.
1979: Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton
Country music singer Willie Nelson, left, is congratulated by presenter and singer Dolly Parton as he receives the entertainer of the year award at the 13th annual Country Music Association awards show at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House, Tenn., Oct. 9, 1979.
1980: Willie Nelson
Country singer Willie Nelson second from left, crosses the finish line at the first annual Willie Nelson distance classic on Sunday, June 15, 1980 at the Pedernales Country Clute owns near Lake Travis in Austin, Texas. Nelson finished the hilly, 6.2 mile course one hour, 7 minutes and 45 seconds. More than 1,000 runners competed.
1982: Willie Nelson wins ACM awards for 'Always on My Mind'
Country singer Willie Nelson poses with his wife, Connie, after receiving an award at the 1982 18th annual Academy of Country Music Awards at Knott's Berry Farmy in Buena Park, Ca., Monday, May 9, 1983. Nelson won best single record of the year and album of the year for "Always on My Mind."
1983: Willie Nelson at Bob Hope Desert Classic
Country singer Willie Nelson reacts after sinking a 12-foot birdie putt at Indian Wells Country Club in Palm Springs, Calif., Jan. 19, 1983 during the first round of the Bob Hope Desert Classic. Nelson relieved Bob Hope in the tournament because Hope's eyes still bother him after having eye surgery.
1983: Willie Nelson, Ray Charles and first lady Nancy Reagan
First lady Nancy Reagan, left, gets a laugh with Ray Charles, center, and Willie Nelson, right, and other entertainers at a salute to country music at Constitution Hall in Washington on March 16, 1983.
1983: Willie Nelson
Country singer Willie Nelson performs as the closing act at the US Festival in Devore, Ca., Saturday night, June 5, 1983.
1983: Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard, left, and Willie Nelson accept their Duo of the Year award at the Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 10, 1983.
1984: Willie Nelson
Country singer Willie Nelson performs at New York's Radio City Music Hall Thursday night in the first of six sold-out concerts, May 25, 1984.
1985: Willie Nelson with Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter
Willie Nelson, center, is shown on stage with former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter, following the singing of "Amazing Grace," May 18, 1985 in Plains Ga. at Nelson's Plains Centennial Concert.
1985: Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson performs during opening set at the FarmAid benefit concert September 22, 1985 at Champaign, Illinois.
1986: Willie Nelson
Country singer Willie Nelson is seen in 1986.
1986: Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson in Austin, Texas, Feb. 17, 1986, as he taped 45 historical vignettes of Texas history to be during the Sesquicentennial year. At the taping, Nelson said "I'm getting well educated; I'm learning a lot more about Texas history that I didn't know."
1986: Willie Nelson and Don Johnson
Actor Don Johnson (left) and singer Willie Nelson are seen on the set while filming an episode of the TV series "Miami Vice," in Miami, Fla., June 27, 1986.
1987: Willie Nelson and Morgan Fairchild
Actress Morgan Fairchild laughs as she and Willie Nelson get together to promote their movie, "Red Headed Stranger." The two star in the film which premieres in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Feb. 19, 1987.
1987: Willie Nelson
As Singer Willie Nelson opens his Fourth of July Picnic event in Carl's Corner, Texas, on July 4, 1987, a fan in the audience is waving the American flag.
1989: Willie Nelson at ACM Awards
Singer Willie Nelson poses with his award backstage at the American Music Awards show in Los Angeles, Calif., on January 30, 1989.
1989: Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson in 1989.
1992: Willie Nelson and Ross Perot
H. Ross Perot, left, and country singer Willie Nelson share the stage on Saturday, May 30, 1992 at the nominating convention for Perot in Little Rock. Perot is now on the November ballot in the home state of Democratic candidate Gov. Bill Clinton. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)
1993: Willie Nelson at CMAs
Country singer-songwriter Willie Nelson appears at the Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 29, 1993.
1995: Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett
Singers Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett, right, perform with Lovett's Large Band at the annual ESPY awards show at New York's Radio City Music Hall, on February 13, 1995.
2002: Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson performs at Farm Aid 2002 in Burgettstown, Pa., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2002.
2003: Willie Nelson
Country music legend Willie Nelson waves to the crowd after performing on Friday April 4, 2003, in Grand Prairie, Texas.
2003: Willie Nelson and Toby Keith
Willie Nelson, left, joins Toby Keith as they sing "Beer for My Horses" during the 38th annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, Wednesday, May 21, 2003.
2004: Willie Nelson at the Super Bowl
Country singer Willie Nelson performs during the pregame show before Super Bowl XXXVIII on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004, at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
2004: Willie Nelson at Ray Charles funeral
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, second from left, embraces singer Willie Nelson as Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn, right, and Rikki Klieman, wife of Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton, look on during funeral services for music legend Ray Charles at the First AME Church in Los Angeles, Friday, June 18, 2004.
2004: Willie Nelson
Singer Willie Nelson is interviewed at the Democratic National Convention at the FleetCenter in Boston, Thursday, July 29, 2004.
2004: Willie Nelson, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter
Former President Jimmy Carter, right, and his wife Rosalynn join country singer Willie Nelson on the stage during a free concert in Carter's hometown of Plains, Ga., on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2004. The concert culminated the filming of a Country Music Television Special titled, "CMT Homecoming: Jimmy Carter in Plains.''
2004: Willie Nelson in Washington D.C.
Country music legend Willie Nelson speaks during a news conference with lawmakers about the importance of revitalizing family farming on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2004 in Washington.
2005: Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp
Farm Aid founder Willie Nelson, right, and co-founder John Mellencamp hold a news conference announcing that Farm Aid will hold its 20th anniversary celebration in Illinois, Monday, July 11, 2005, in Chicago.
2005: Willie Nelson
In this Sept. 18, 2005 file photo, country music legend Willie Nelson performs at the 20th anniversary Farm Aid concert in Tinley Park, Ill. Nelson's famous guitar "Trigger," a Martin N-20 nylon-string acoustic, is so worn from strumming over the years that there's a hole in the body. The guitar is among those featured in a book entitled “108 Rock Guitars”” by Lisa S. Johnson.
2006: Willie Nelson, Neil Young and Jonathan Demme
Neil Young, left, and Willie Nelson, center, laugh with movie director Jonathan Demme, right, as they arrive at the premiere of the film, "Neil Young Heart of Gold," in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, March 9, 2006.
2006: Willie Nelson and Bernie Sanders
Entertainer Willie Nelson, right, appears at a rally in support of Rep. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., left, at a farm in Charlotte, Vt., Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2006. Sanders is running for the open seat in the U.S. Senate left by Sen. James Jeffords.
2007: Willie Nelson
Producer Sam Lovullo, center left and singer Willie Nelson, right, along with the cast of the television show "Hee Haw" accept the Entertainer's Award during the 5th Annual TV Land Awards, Saturday, April 14, 2007 in Santa Monica, Calif.
2007: Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson's guitar shows decades of wear as he performs at the Crossroads Guitar Festival in Chicago, Saturday, July 28, 2007.
2008: Willie Nelson at Bonnaroo
Willie Nelson performs at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2008, Friday, June 13, 2008, in Manchester, Tenn.
2009: Willie Nelson, Patty Griffin, Vince Gill, Kris Kristofferson
Country music artists Patty Griffin, Vince Gill, second left, Willie Nelson, center, Kris Kristofferson and BMI President and CEO Del Bryant, right, on stage during the 57th Annual BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tenn. Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009.
2010: Willie Nelson at the White House
Country singer Willie Nelson attends a reception for the recipients of the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors in East Room of the White House, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010.
2012: Willie Nelson, Jamie Johnson, Zac Brown, Toby Keith, Darius Rucker
Musicians Jamie Johnson, Zac Brown, Willie Nelson, Toby Keith, and Darius Rucker perform on the 2012 CMT Music Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on June 6, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup) via AP IMAGES)
2012: Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson arrives at the 46th Annual Country Music Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn.
2012: Willie Nelson receives lifetime achievement award at CMAs
Brad Paisley, right, presents the Willie Nelson lifetime achievement award to Willie Nelson at the 46th Annual Country Music Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo by Wade Payne/Invision/AP)
2012: Willie Nelson
This Nov. 20, 2012 file photo shows country music legend Willie Nelson on NBC's "Today" show in New York.
2013: Willie Nelson, Carolyn Mugar
Willie Nelson, left, and Farm Aid executive director Carolyn Mugar talk with reporters during a press conference prior to the start of the Farm Aid 2013 concert at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013.
2014: Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson at the Grammys
Willie Nelson, left, and Kris Kristofferson perform on stage at the 56th annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, in Los Angeles.
2014: Willie Nelson and Neil Young
Willie Nelson and Neil Young perform at the Harvest the Hope concert in Neligh, Neb. on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. The concert in northeast Nebraska was organized to raise money for efforts opposing the Keystone petroleum pipeline. (AP Photo/Dave Weaver)
2014: Willie Nelson at White House
Willie Nelson sings during a special daytime workshop for high school students from military communities in the greater Washington area, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, hosted by first lady Michelle Obama. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
2015: Willie Nelson honored as recipient of Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song
Musician Willie Nelson is seen during luncheon at the Library of Congress in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015, where he is being honored as the new recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
2015: Willie Nelson
Musician Willie Nelson watches a video presentation during his tour of musical items at the Library of Congress in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015. Nelson is being honored as the new recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
2017: Willie Nelson
In this Jan. 7, 2017, file photo, Willie Nelson performs in Nashville, Tenn. Nelson has cancelled shows in Nevada and California after leaving a concert in San Diego after performing one song.
2018: Willie Nelson and Beto O'Rourke
From left, artist Willie Nelson and Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-TX) wave to the crowd during the "Turn Out for Texas" concert and rally at Auditorium Shores on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018 in Austin, Texas.
2019: Willie Nelson and George Strait
Willie Nelson, left, and George Strait perform at Willie: Life & Songs Of An American Outlaw at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn.
2019: Willie Nelson at CMA Awards
Willie Nelson performs "The Rainbow Connection" at the 53rd annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn.
2019: Willie Nelson and Kacey Musgraves
Kacey Musgraves, left, and Willie Nelson perform "The Rainbow Connection" at the 53rd annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Happy birthday, Willie Nelson, who turns 89 today. A look at the country music legend's life and career.