Biography:An American country music singer and songwriter, Willie Nelson is also an author, poet, actor, and activist.
The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie (1973), combined with commercial successes of Red Headed Stranger (1975) and Stardust (1978), made Nelson one of the most recognized artists in country music.
He was one of the main figures of outlaw country, a subgenre of country music that developed in the late 1960s in reaction to the conservative restrictions of the Nashville sound.
Nelson has acted in over 30 films, co-authored several books, and been involved in activism for the use of biofuels and the legalization of marijuana.
1986-07-04 Farm Aid II benefit concert held in Manor, Texas; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Waylon Jennings, Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys, Nicolette Larson, Los Lobos, and Steve Earle
1990-04-07 Farm Aid IV concert at Hoosier Dome (Indianapolis, Indiana features Bonnie Raitt, John Mellencamp, John Hiatt, Carl Perkins, Arlo Guthrie, Garth Brooks, Bruce Hornsby, Elton John, Lou Reed, Taj Mahal, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Willie Nelson, Iggy Pop, and others
1992-02-02 IRS & Willie Nelson settle on $9M tax bill (of $16.7M)
1992-03-14 Farm Aid V held in Irving, Texas; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Arlo Guthrie, Asleep At The Wheel, Kentucky Headhunters, Texas Tornadoes, Bonnie Raitt, Tracy Chapman, Paul Simon, and Mary Chapin Carpenter
1994-09-18 Farm Aid VII held in New Orleans, Louisiana; performers include Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Neville Brothers, Spin Doctors, Gin Blossoms, John Conlee, Kris Kristofferson, Al Hirt, and Pete Fountain
1996-10-12 Farm Aid IX held in Columbia, South Carolina; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Hootie and the Blowfish, The Beach Boys, Son Volt, Robert Earl Keen, Martina McBride, Jewel, and John Conlee
1997-10-04 Farm Aid 10 held in Tinley Park, Illinois; performers include Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Fogerty, Beck, Dave Matthews Band, Steve Earle, and The Allman Brothers
1998-10-03 Farm Aid 11 held in Tinley Park, Illinois; performers include Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Phish, Steve Earle, Wilco, and Del McCoury Band
1999-09-12 Farm Aid 12 held in Bristow, Virginia; performers include Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews Band, Susan Tedeschi, Keb' Mo', Deana Carter, and Barenaked Ladies
2000-06-23 Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, England opens: The Chemical Brothers, Travis, and David Bowie headline; other performers include G. Love & Special Sauce, David Gray, Willie Nelson, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Macy Gray
2000-09-17 Farm Aid 13 held in Bristow, Virginia; performers include Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, CSN&Y, Arlo Guthrie, Sawyer Brown, Alan Jackson, Travis Tritt, North Mississippi Allstars, Barenaked Ladies, and Tipper Gore
2002-09-21 Farm Aid 15 held in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Keith Urban, Lee Ann Womack, Kid Rock, Gillian Welch, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and The Drive-By Truckers
2005-09-18 Farm Aid 18 held in Tinley Park, Illinois; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Arlo Guthrie, Buddy Guy, Emmylou Harris, James McMurtry, Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra, John Mayer, Kathleen Edwards, Kenny Chesney, Susan Tedeschi, Widespread Panic, and Wilco
2006-09-30 Farm Aid 19 held in Tinley Park, Illinois; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Jerry Lee Lewis, Los Lonely Boys, Arlo Guthrie, Gov't Mule, Steve Earle and Allison Moorer, Steel Pulse, Shelby Lynne, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Jimmy Sturr & his Orchestra
2007-09-09 Farm Aid 20 held in Randall Island, New York City; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Merle Haggard, Billy Joe Shaver, Gregg Allman, The Allman Brothers Band, Counting Crows, Matisyahu, Guster, The Derek Trucks Band, Warren Haynes, and Jimmy Sturr
2008-09-20 Farm Aid 21 held in Mansfield, Massachusetts; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Jerry Lee Lewis, Kenny Chesney, The Pretenders, moe., Arlo Guthrie, Steve Earle, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Jakob Dylan and The Gold Mountain Rebels
2009-10-04 Farm Aid 22 held in Maryland Heights, Missouri; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Jamey Johnson, Jason Mraz, Phosphorescent, Wilco, and Will Dailey
2010-06-23 Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, England opens: Gorillaz, Muse, and Stevie Wonder headline; other performers include Vampire Weekend, Snoop Dogg; Shakira, Willie Nelson, Ray Davies and The Pet Shop Boys
2011-08-13 Farm Aid (25th Anniversary) held in Kansas City, Kansas; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Jason Mraz, Jamey Johnson, Jakob Dylan, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Billy Joe Shaver, and Rebecca Pidgeon
2013-09-21 Farm Aid held in Saratoga Springs, New York; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Pete Seeger, Amos Lee, Jack Johnson, Jamey Johnson, Kacey Musgraves, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Sasha Dobson, Carlene Carter, Pegi Young & The Survivors, and Insects vs Robots
2014-09-13 Farm Aid held in Raleigh, north Carolina; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Jack White, Gary Clarke Jr., Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Jamey Johnson, Delta Rae, Todd Snider, Carlene Carter, and Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
2015-09-19 Farm Aid (30th Anniversary) held in Chicago, Illinois; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Imagine Dragons, Jack Johnson, Kacey Musgraves, Old Crow Medicine Show, Jamey Johnson, Mavis Staples, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, and Holly Williams
2016-09-17 Farm Aid held in Bristow, Virginia; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Alabama Shakes, Sturgill Simpson, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Jamey Johnson & Alison Krauss, Margo Price, and The Wisdom Indian Dancers
2019-09-21 Farm Aid held in East Troy, Wisconsin; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Bonnie Raitt, Luke Combs, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Jamey Johnson, Margo Price, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Yola, Tanya Tucker, and Ho-Chunk Thundercloud Singers
2020-04-11 Farm Aid "At Home" held virtually; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Black Pumas, Bonnie Raitt, Boz Scaggs, Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton, Edie Brickell, Jack Johnson, Jamey Johnson, Jon Batiste, and Valerie June & The War and Treaty
Barbara Mandrell
Blake Shelton
Garth Brooks
Johnny Cash
Martina McBride
Roger Miller