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Willie Nelson

Country Music Singer-Songwriter Known for "On The Road Again" & "Always On My Mind"

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Willie Nelson Biography

Willie Nelson is a country music singer-songwriter, actor, author, and activist. One of the main figures in outlaw country, Nelson has acted in over 30 films, co-authored several books, and has been involved in activism for the use of biofuels and the legalization of marijuana.

In 2012, the Country Music Association honored Nelson with an all-star tribute at the CMAs in Nashville. He is recognized worldwide as an American troubadour and icon, transcended musical genres and has remained relevant through five decades for his music, acting and as the face of such social causes

During the mid-1980s, while creating hit albums like Honeysuckle Rose and recording hit songs like "On the Road Again," "To All the Girls I've Loved Before," and "Pancho and Lefty," he joined the country supergroup The Highwaymen, along with fellow singers Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson.

Raised by his grandparents, Nelson first began writing songs when he was seven years old and was playing in a band by age 10. After graduating from high school in 1950, he joined the U.S. Air Force but was later discharged due to back problems. Then Nelson entered Baylor University, but ultimately dropped out of college and worked as a radio DJ for several years, playing gigs in his free time. During this time, which was in the late 1950s, Nelson wrote songs that would include some of his most famous works, such as “Night Life,” “Crazy,” and “Funny How Time Slips Away.”

In 1960, Nelson moved to the country music capital: Nashville, Tennessee. He got a job as a songwriter for Pamper Music, earning about $50 a week. The next year, two of Nelson's songs become hits for other artists -- Faron Young's version of "Hello Walls" and Patsy Cline's legendary rendition of "Crazy." His first album was released the next year without generating much notice.

Singer Ray Price, with whom Nelson had played with previously, made Nelson's song "Night Life" a big hit in 1963. It seemed that his songs were only successful when they were sung by other people. With his gritty, roadhouse sound, Nelson did not fit into the traditional Nashville country music scene. Producers tried to make him fit the more classic country mold, but they just stripped away his unique style, such as his unusual manner of phrasing. And his resistance to these efforts made him a bit of an outlaw, as did his reputation as a hard-drinking, hard-living man.

Nelson moved to Austin, Texas, and kept recording albums, but now he was definitely going his own way. Soon the long-haired, bandana-wearing guitarist started to develop a following. Shotgun Willie (1973) is considered to be one of his greatest albums of all time and showcased his abilities as a singer, storyteller, and performer. The next year, Nelson released Phases and Stages, which became another popular album for the rising star.

With his album Red Headed Stranger, Nelson had his first taste of crossover success. It did well on both the country and rock charts and featured the hit "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," which was written by Fred Rose. Along with being his first song to reach #1 on the country charts, the song also brought Nelson his first Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance in 1975.

Always interested in different musical styles, Nelson recorded his own takes on some American standards on his 1978 album Stardust. His cover of Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell's "Georgia on My Mind" earned him his second Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance.

Around this time, Nelson also branched out into acting. He first appeared in The Electric Horseman starring Robert Redford. Soon after, Nelson starred in Honeysuckle Rose, in which he played a veteran country music performer. The film also featured the song "On the Road Again," which earned Nelson an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. The ballad "Always on my Mind" won the Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance in 1982.

The following year, Nelson teamed up with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson to form The Highwaymen. Their first release was a big hit, as was the title track, and they produced another album.

Always experimenting, Nelson continues to try out new types of material. In 2005, he released Countryman, which incorporated elements of reggae. Nelson's 2012 album, Heroes, featured appearances by Merle Haggard, Snoop Dogg, Kris Kristofferson, and Sheryl Crow, among others.

In 2010, Austin, Texas renamed Second Street to Willie Nelson Boulevard. In 2013, he received an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music. The following year, he was part of the inaugural class inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame.

He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993, and he received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1998. In 2011, Nelson was inducted to the National Agricultural Hall of Fame, for his labor in Farm Aid and other fundraisers to benefit farmers. In 2015, Nelson won the Gershwin Prize, the lifetime award of the Library of Congress. In 2018, The Texas Institute of Letters inducted him among its members for his songwriting.

Nelson continues to tour extensively and release albums with a variety of musical influences.

Speaking Topics
  • Entertainment

Videos
Books
Me and Paul: Untold Stories of a Fabled Friendship

Me and Paul: Untold Stories of a Fabled Friendship

It's a Long Story: My Life

It's a Long Story: My Life

News
FAQs
  • How do I book Willie Nelson to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Willie Nelson for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Willie Nelson, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Willie Nelson or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Willie Nelson

    Speaking fees for Willie Nelson, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Willie Nelson are available upon request for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Willie Nelson, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Willie Nelson speak about?

    Willie Nelson is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Activism, Actors, Animals & Wildlife, Authors, Earth Day, Entertainers, Entertainment, Environment, Green and Sustainability, Literary, Military, Music, Poetry, Speakers by Industry, Television Stars.
  • Where does Willie Nelson travel from?

    Willie Nelson generally travels from Spicewood, TX, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Willie Nelson’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Willie Nelson for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Willie Nelson for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Willie Nelson or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

Country Music Singer-Songwriter Known for "On The Road Again" & "Always On My Mind"

Travels From:
Spicewood, TX, USA
Speaking Fee:

Willie Nelson Biography

Willie Nelson is a country music singer-songwriter, actor, author, and activist. One of the main figures in outlaw country, Nelson has acted in over 30 films, co-authored several books, and has been involved in activism for the use of biofuels and the legalization of marijuana.

In 2012, the Country Music Association honored Nelson with an all-star tribute at the CMAs in Nashville. He is recognized worldwide as an American troubadour and icon, transcended musical genres and has remained relevant through five decades for his music, acting and as the face of such social causes

During the mid-1980s, while creating hit albums like Honeysuckle Rose and recording hit songs like "On the Road Again," "To All the Girls I've Loved Before," and "Pancho and Lefty," he joined the country supergroup The Highwaymen, along with fellow singers Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson.

Raised by his grandparents, Nelson first began writing songs when he was seven years old and was playing in a band by age 10. After graduating from high school in 1950, he joined the U.S. Air Force but was later discharged due to back problems. Then Nelson entered Baylor University, but ultimately dropped out of college and worked as a radio DJ for several years, playing gigs in his free time. During this time, which was in the late 1950s, Nelson wrote songs that would include some of his most famous works, such as “Night Life,” “Crazy,” and “Funny How Time Slips Away.”

In 1960, Nelson moved to the country music capital: Nashville, Tennessee. He got a job as a songwriter for Pamper Music, earning about $50 a week. The next year, two of Nelson's songs become hits for other artists -- Faron Young's version of "Hello Walls" and Patsy Cline's legendary rendition of "Crazy." His first album was released the next year without generating much notice.

Singer Ray Price, with whom Nelson had played with previously, made Nelson's song "Night Life" a big hit in 1963. It seemed that his songs were only successful when they were sung by other people. With his gritty, roadhouse sound, Nelson did not fit into the traditional Nashville country music scene. Producers tried to make him fit the more classic country mold, but they just stripped away his unique style, such as his unusual manner of phrasing. And his resistance to these efforts made him a bit of an outlaw, as did his reputation as a hard-drinking, hard-living man.

Nelson moved to Austin, Texas, and kept recording albums, but now he was definitely going his own way. Soon the long-haired, bandana-wearing guitarist started to develop a following. Shotgun Willie (1973) is considered to be one of his greatest albums of all time and showcased his abilities as a singer, storyteller, and performer. The next year, Nelson released Phases and Stages, which became another popular album for the rising star.

With his album Red Headed Stranger, Nelson had his first taste of crossover success. It did well on both the country and rock charts and featured the hit "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," which was written by Fred Rose. Along with being his first song to reach #1 on the country charts, the song also brought Nelson his first Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance in 1975.

Always interested in different musical styles, Nelson recorded his own takes on some American standards on his 1978 album Stardust. His cover of Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell's "Georgia on My Mind" earned him his second Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance.

Around this time, Nelson also branched out into acting. He first appeared in The Electric Horseman starring Robert Redford. Soon after, Nelson starred in Honeysuckle Rose, in which he played a veteran country music performer. The film also featured the song "On the Road Again," which earned Nelson an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. The ballad "Always on my Mind" won the Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance in 1982.

The following year, Nelson teamed up with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson to form The Highwaymen. Their first release was a big hit, as was the title track, and they produced another album.

Always experimenting, Nelson continues to try out new types of material. In 2005, he released Countryman, which incorporated elements of reggae. Nelson's 2012 album, Heroes, featured appearances by Merle Haggard, Snoop Dogg, Kris Kristofferson, and Sheryl Crow, among others.

In 2010, Austin, Texas renamed Second Street to Willie Nelson Boulevard. In 2013, he received an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music. The following year, he was part of the inaugural class inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame.

He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993, and he received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1998. In 2011, Nelson was inducted to the National Agricultural Hall of Fame, for his labor in Farm Aid and other fundraisers to benefit farmers. In 2015, Nelson won the Gershwin Prize, the lifetime award of the Library of Congress. In 2018, The Texas Institute of Letters inducted him among its members for his songwriting.

Nelson continues to tour extensively and release albums with a variety of musical influences.

Willie Nelson Speaking Topics

  • Entertainment

Willie Nelson Videos

  • Willie Nelson - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (Audio) ft. Paula ...
  • Willie Nelson - It's Hard to Be Humble (Official Music Video)
  • Willie Nelson - Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain

Willie Nelson Books

FAQs on booking Willie Nelson

  • How do I book Willie Nelson to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Willie Nelson for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Willie Nelson, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Willie Nelson or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Willie Nelson

    Speaking fees for Willie Nelson, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Willie Nelson are available upon request for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Willie Nelson, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Willie Nelson speak about?

    Willie Nelson is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Activism, Actors, Animals & Wildlife, Authors, Earth Day, Entertainers, Entertainment, Environment, Green and Sustainability, Literary, Military, Music, Poetry, Speakers by Industry, Television Stars.
  • Where does Willie Nelson travel from?

    Willie Nelson generally travels from Spicewood, TX, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Willie Nelson’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Willie Nelson for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Willie Nelson for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Willie Nelson or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Willie Nelson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Entertainment. The estimated speaking fee range to book Willie Nelson for your event is available upon request. Willie Nelson generally travels from Spicewood, TX, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Walk The Moon, Janelle Monáe, Eli Young Band, Chris Stapleton and Chase Rice. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Willie Nelson for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Willie Nelson Speaking Topics

  • Entertainment

Willie Nelson Speaker Videos

  • Willie Nelson - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (Audio) ft. Paula ...
    Willie Nelson - It's Hard to Be Humble (Official Music Video)
  • Willie Nelson - Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
    2010: Willie Nelson talks smoking pot
    CNN's Larry King talks to legendary singer Willie Nelson about why he supports marijuana legalization.
  • Willie Nelson - Always On My Mind (Official Music Video)

Willie Nelson News

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Speakers Similar to Willie Nelson

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

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