Willie Nelson Reflects on Excess, Ageing and What Keeps Him Going at 93

Willie Nelson says he spent years drinking too much, smoking too much and taking too many pills. Now 93, the country music veteran is still performing and working on his cannabis business, according to an interview published alongside the release of his memoir, The Last Leaf. Nelson’s publicist warned the interviewer that he prefers to focus on the future rather than revisit the past. That meant the conversation was steered toward his plans for gigging and his business, Willie’s Reserve. The interview itself was brief: after negotiating for extra time, the journalist was given 15 minutes to speak with the singer by phone. The article describes Nelson’s recent work as preoccupied with ageing and mortality. His albums Last Leaf on the Tree and Dream Chaser are presented as reflections on those themes, while the new memoir brings together memories of his life and conversations with collaborators who have died. Nelson has also said he is a man of few words and happiest among friends, playing dominoes or poker and listening to others talk. Nelson’s career has included more than 150 albums, the country supergroup the Highwaymen, and the founding of Farm Aid with Neil Young and John Mellencamp. He has written songs that became famous through other performers, including “Crazy,” recorded by Patsy Cline, as well as “On the Road Again.” The article also recalls his tax dispute, which he addressed with the release of a double album, and his collaborations with performers across genres. Asked how he was doing, Nelson replied that he was good and asked the interviewer the same question. The profile portrays a musician who, despite a history of excess and the passage of time, remains focused on music, business and the company of friends.