Willie Nelson is one of the legendary performers in country music.
He’s spent more than 70 years in the music business.
And Willie Nelson made one confession about his future that no one saw coming.
Willie Nelson releases another album
Country music legend Willie Nelson recently released the 153rd album of his career and the 76th solo album titled, Last Leaf On The Tree.
This came after he released his album, The Border, in the spring.
The 91-year-old is still going strong, releasing music and touring, but his new album reflects on life and death.
Micah Nelson, Willie’s son, produced the album and picked the tracks for it, which include a mix of covers and originals.
The Associated Press asked Willie how much music he had left in him.
“I don’t know. I hope there’s a few more,” Willie said. “Maybe he’ll hit 200? ‘Why not!’”
Nelson noted that he was the last artist left from the Outlaw Country era in the 1970s that included musicians Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson who joined him in the supergroup The Highwaymen.
He called Kristofferson, who passed away in September, the best songwriter he’s ever seen in the past.
“He was a great songwriter. He left a lot of fantastic songs around for the rest of us to sing, for as long as we’re here,” Willie explained. “Kris was a great friend of mine. And, you know, we just kind of had a lot of fun together and made a lot of music together — videos, movies. I hated to lose him. That was a sad time.”
Willie Nelson’s new album talks about life and death
Willie admitted that he’s not worried about dying and wants to enjoy the time he has left on this Earth.
“Well, I’m 91 plus, so, you know, I’m not worried about it. I don’t feel bad. I don’t hurt anywhere. I don’t have any reason to worry about dying. But I don’t know anybody who’s lived forever,” Willie said. “I take pretty good care of myself. And I feel like I’m in pretty good shape physically. Mentally? That’s another story.”
He’s content with his musical legacy after releasing his debut album, …And Then I Wrote, in 1962.
“I had a good time,” Willie stated. “And I did what I came here to do: make music.”
The country music legend opened up about outliving so many of his contemporaries and members of his family.
“I’ve lost a lot of good friends. And for some reason, I’m still here,” Willie said with a laugh.
He lost his friends Kris Kristofferson and Toby Keith this year.
Willie said that it never gets easier to lose someone that he’s close to.
“We all have to go through it in various ways,” Willie explained. “And each time it is just as bad as the last time.”
Willie spent the spring and summer touring with the Outlaw Music Festival Tour, which featured artists like Bob Dylan, Robert Plant, and Alison Krauss.
The country music legend keeps doing what he loves by releasing music and performing for audiences.