Accidental outlaw Willie Nelson celebrates 80th birthday

AP ^ | May 20 2013 | Chris Talbott

[WilliamIII]

America loves its outlaws, and few are as admired and lionized as Willie Nelson.

As the enduring American icon recently turned 80, he's been honored with lifetime achievement awards, serenaded at special performances and saluted by musicians from every genre of music. And Nelson has taken it all in with a bemused smile.

"It's a nice thing to do for someone on their birthday, and I appreciate it," Nelson said in a recent interview aboard his bus. "Usually I like to forget my birthdays as much as possible."

[WorkingClassFilth]

Willie went from folk to fried in the span of 20 years. A lot of people did in the ‘60’s but most of them weren't lionized like this friend of the left. Willie can take his fame/money/opinions and stick them where blue skies are never seen. Dozens of country singers far more deserving are never going to be honored like this piece of counter-culture detritus.

[knarf]

[Biggirl]

The outlaw is a big thing in country and western music.

[WilliamIII]

Don’t let your children grow up to be liberals -— or potheads.

But I still have to cut Willie some slack. Nobody sings like Willie.

[ConorMacNessa]

I don't care what his politics are, I like his music.

Happy Birthday, Willie Nelson!

Willie Nelson - Always On My Mind



"Riamh nár dhruid ó sbairn lann!"

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[plain talk]

what’s interesting is that he has always looked old and haggard. So at 80 he knows like he did 30 years ago. he never changes

[plain talk]

what’s interesting is that he has always looked old and haggard. So at 80 he knows like he did 30 years ago. he never changes

[billorites]

Roll another one
Just like the other one
You've been holding on to it
And I sure will like a hit

Willie is great.

He has consistently delivered great pleasure in my direction for forty years.

[HiTech RedNeck]

It is, it’s part of the hankering for freedom.

There’s another way of doing it, it’s being a willing slave to the Lord. (Which does NOT mean being a slave to committees of clergy....) This cuts square across any human law that dares get in the way.

[Westbrook]

What has 100 legs, six teeth, and an IQ of 40?

The front row at a Willie Nelson Concert.

[deport]

A prolific writer with many credits to his name.

On The Road Again
Jun 7 Westbury, NY
Jun 8 Atlantic City, NJ
Jun 12 Newark, NJ
Jun 14 Gilford, NH
Jun 15 Newport, RI
Jun 16 Bethlehem, PA
Jun 19 Windsor, ON
Jul 12 Anderson, IN
Jul 18 Sylvania, OH
Jul 19 Cincinnati, OH

[ClearCase_guy]

I wonder what Willie thinks of the current IRS scandal.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Yep. Nobody.

[W.]

Thanks, WIII, Nice to say happy BD to that old fart. Saw him in Toledo in the mid 80’s at the Stranahan Theater and enjoyed it immensely, woulda been even better if Willie’d been opening for Van Halen! Hee, hee, hee...;)

[basil]

I see him around from time to time........in the Austin area.

He has a little eating joint out on hwy 71 W called Poodies. We go there once in a while—good burger joint—usually has live music of some sort on the weekends, and once in a while, Willie stops in and sings a set or two.

The first time I saw him, I was surprised at how little he is-—

[cripplecreek]

Willie with Dave Mustaine of Megadeth. Mustaine was in Texas looking for a ranch and ran into Willie at a restaurant. Apparently they're going to work on a project together when Mustaine finishes the tour he just started.

Mustaine is the more conservative of the two.

[cripplecreek]

Look at post 17. Does that look like Poodles?

[tarawa]

I believe he also owns the Texas Roadhouse at I-35 and Slaughter.

[bigheadfred]

prolly breathing a sigh