Willie Nelson

Acting

Born: 1933-04-30

From: Abbott, Texas, USA

Gender: Male

Popularity: 1

Also Known As

The HighwaymenWillie Hugh Nelson

Biography

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. Description above from the Wikipedia article Willie Nelson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

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Awards & Nominations19 won · 41 nominated

🏆 Won

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

2023

🏆 Won

Gershwin Prize

2015

🏆 Won

Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award

2012

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Americana Album

Country Music

2010

🏆 Won

Grammy Hall of Fame

2010

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

American Classic

2009

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals

2009

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Americana Album

Willie and the Wheel

2009

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals

2007

🏆 Won

Americana Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting

2007

🏆 Won

Grammy Hall of Fame

2007

🏆 Won

Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals

2007

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Country Album

You Don't Know Me: The Songs of Cindy Walker

2006

🏆 Won

Grammy Hall of Fame

Wanted! The Outlaws

2006

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals

2005

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance

2005

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals

2004

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance

2004

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals

2003

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Country Album

Live and Kickin'

2003

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals

2002

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Country Album

The Great Divide

2002

🏆 Won

Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals

2002

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance

2001

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Country Album

Rainbow Connection

2001

🏆 Won

Grammy Hall of Fame

Red Headed Stranger

2001

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Music Film

2000

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance

Night and Day

1999

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals

1999

🏆 Won

Kennedy Center Honors

1998

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance

1997

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Moonlight Becomes You

1994

Nominated

People's Choice Award for Favorite Country Artist

1990

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals

Highwayman 2

1990

🏆 Won

Grammy Legend Award

1990

🏆 Won

American Music Award of Merit

1989

Nominated

Favorite Country Male Artist

1987

🏆 Won

Favorite Country Male Artist

1987

Nominated

Favorite Country Male Artist

1986

Nominated

Country Music Association Award for Entertainer of the Year

1986

Nominated

Favorite Country Single

Forgiving You Was Easy

1986

Nominated

American Music Award for Favorite Country Album

City of New Orleans

1986

🏆 Won

Favorite Country Male Artist

1986

🏆 Won

Favorite Country Single

Forgiving You Was Easy

1986

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal

1985

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance

1985

Nominated

Favorite Country Male Artist

1984

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal

1984

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance

1984

Nominated

People's Choice Award for Favorite Country Artist

1984

🏆 Won

Favorite Country Male Artist

1984

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal

Take It to the Limit

1983

Nominated

Country Music Association Award for Entertainer of the Year

1983

Nominated

American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Album

Always on My Mind

1983

Nominated

People's Choice Award for Favorite Country Artist

1983

Nominated

Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal

Pancho & Lefty

1983

Nominated

American Music Award for Favorite Country Album

Always on My Mind

1983

🏆 Won

American Music Award for Favorite Country Album

Always on My Mind

1983

🏆 Won

American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Album

Always on My Mind

1983

Nominated

Country Music Association Award for Entertainer of the Year

1982

Willie Nelson

Also Known As

Biography

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Awards & Nominations19 won · 41 nominated

Acting184 titles

Kinky Friedman: Proud To Be An Asshole From El Paso

Opry Video Classics: Hall of Fame

Willie Nelson at the Teatro

American Revolutions: The Highwaymen

Opry Video Classics : Legends

Ringo Rama

The Highwaymen: On the Road Again

Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'

Glen Campbell | Good Times Again

Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz

Walking After Midnight

The Highwaymen - Live American Outlaws

Mickey's 50

Willie Nelson at Austin City Limits

Kenny, Dolly & Willie: Something Inside So Strong

VH1 Storytellers

Willie Nelson & Family

CMA Awards

Willie Nelson: Live from Austin TX

The Highwaymen: Live at Nassau Coliseum

The Willie Nelson Special - With Special Guest Ray Charles

We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song

Willie Nelson & Friends: Outlaws & Angels

2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Johnny Cash: American Rebel

Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper Well

Road to Austin

Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration

Jerry Lee Lewis: Last Man Standing, Live

Willie Nelson Live @ SXSW

Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O

Chet Atkins: A Life in Music

The Simpsons

Monk

CMT Crossroads

A Tribute to Johnny Cash

The Greatest Night in Pop

Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl

A Poem Is a Naked Person

Dust to Dust

Space Ghost Coast to Coast

All About Ann: Governor Richards of the Lone Star State

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman

Adventures in Wonderland

Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration

Country at the BBC

Miami Vice

Delta

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Coming Out of the Ice

The World of Jim Henson

Broken Bridges

WWE WrestleMania VII

The Kennedy Center Honors

King of the Hill

Elvis | Viva Las Vegas

Quincy

Thief

Be Here to Love Me

Pure Country: Pure Heart

The Best Democracy Money Can Buy

American Epic

Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon

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

My Darling Vivian

Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007

Kris Kristofferson: His Life and Work

Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis Play the Music of Ray Charles

Waylon: Renegade. Outlaw. Legend.

Heartbeat

Honky Tonk Heaven: Legend of the Broken Spoke

The American Epic Sessions

Outlaw Country: Live from Austin, TX

Also Starring Austin