
Profession: Country Singer and Songwriter
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.
Prior to his success as a recording artist, he gained notice in music circles for his songwriting, penning the hits "Hello Walls", "Funny How Time Slips Away" , "Pretty Paper", and, most famously, "Crazy".
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.
He was one of the organizers of Farm Aid, an all-star benefit concert for American farmers in 1985. The event has been held annually since, with Nelson participating in all of them.
Born: April 29, 1933
Birthplace: Abbott, Texas, USA
Age: 90 years old
Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Rooster
Star Sign: Taurus
Married Life
- 1963-01-12 Country singer Willie Nelson (29) weds singer Shirley Collie (31) in Las Vegas; divorce in 1971
- 1991-09-16 American country singer-songwriter Willie Nelson (58) weds fourth wife American make-up artist Annie D'Angelo (35) in Nashville, Tennessee
Historical Events
- 1979-10-08 13th Country Music Association Award: Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers & Barbara Mandrell win
- 1982-10-11 16th Country Music Association Award: Willie Nelson & Ricky Skaggs win
- 1985-09-22 First Farm Aid benefit concert, Champaign, Illinois; organized by Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp; performers included Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Billy Joel, B.B. King, Hoyt Axton, Joni Mitchell, Rickie Lee Jones, and Emmylou Harris
- 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
- 1987-09-19 Farm Aid III held in Lincoln, Nebraska; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett, John Denver, and Joe Walsh
- 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
- 1993-04-24 Farm Aid VI held in Ames, Iowa; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Arlo Guthrie, The Jayhawks, Lyle Lovett, Johnny Cash, Ricky Van Shelton, Marty Stuart, Martina McBride, Bruce Hornsby, Bryan Adams, Ringo Starr, and Dwight Yoakam
- 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
- 1995-10-01 Farm Aid VIII held in Louisville, Kentucky; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Hootie and the Blowfish, Dave Matthews Band, John Conlee, and Steve Earle
- 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
- 2001-09-29 Farm Aid 14 held in Noblesville, Indiana; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Doobie Brothers, and Martina McBride
- 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
- 2003-09-07 Farm Aid 16 held in Columbus, Ohio; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Emmylou Harris, Hootie & the Blowfish, Sheryl Crow, Brooks & Dunn, and Daniel Lanois
- 2004-09-18 Farm Aid 17 held in Auburn, Washington; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Marc Broussard
- 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, 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, Jason Mraz, and Wilco
- 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
- 2010-10-02 Farm Aid 23 held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Jeff Tweedy, Kenny Chesney, Jason Mraz, Norah Jones, Amos Lee, The BoDeans, and Jamey Johnson
- 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, and Billy Joe Shaver
- 2012-09-22 Farm Aid held in Hershey, Pennsylvania; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Kenny Chesney, Jack Johnson, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Dale Watson, and Pegi Young
- 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, Kacey Musgraves, Toad the Wet Sprocket, 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, Todd Snider, and Carlene Carter
- 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, and Mavis Staples
- 2015-11-18 American singer-songwriter Willie Nelson receives Library of Congress Gershwin Prize at the Thomas Jefferson Building in Washington, D.C.
- 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
- 2017-09-16 Farm Aid held in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Jack Johnson, The Avett Brothers, Sheryl Crow, and Jamey Johnson
- 2018-09-22 Farm Aid held in Hartford, Connecticut; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves, Sturgill Simpson, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, and Margo Price
- 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, Margo Price, 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, and Jon Batiste
- 2021-09-25 Farm Aid held in Hartford, Connecticut; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Bettye LaVette, Tyler Childers, the Wisdom Indian Dancers, and the Horse Hill Singers
- 2022-09-24 Farm Aid held in Raleigh, North Carolina; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews. Margo Price, Chris Stapleton, Sheryl Crow, and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
- 2023-04-29 Country singer Willie Nelson hosts first of two-night 90th birthday concerts for himself at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California; guest performers include Lyle Lovett; Neil Young, Snoop Dogg, George Strait; Rosanne Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Norah Jones, Chris Stapleton, Beck, Edie Brickell, Tom Jones, and Ziggy Marley, among others
- 2023-04-30 Country singer Willie Nelson hosts second of two-night 90th birthday concerts for himself at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California; guest performers include Dave Matthews, Emmylou Harris, Keith Richards, Bob Wieir, Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliffe, Dwight Yoakam, Sheryl Crow, and Billy Strings, among others
- 2023-09-23 Farm Aid held in Noblesville, Indiana; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews. Margo Price, Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros, Bob Dylan, The String Cheese Incident, and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
Biographies and Sources
- Past Concerts and Festivals - Farm Aid
- Past Farm Aid Concerts & Festivals - Farm Aid