Introduction
In a candid interview, Willie Nelson recalled one of the most legendary—and eyebrow-raising—moments of his life: smoking a joint on the roof of the White House during a visit in 1979. “Yeah, we had a ball,” he said with his signature grin. Nelson described the adventurous stunt, noting that it was technically President Jimmy Carter’s idea to head up to the roof—and that the joint itself was a shared decision. Looking back, he called the experience “iconic… maybe illegal back then.”
Today, we spoke with Nelson aboard his tour bus, a home on wheels that has carried him across the United States for decades. The bus hummed with music from Sheryl Crow, performing at the Merriweather Post Pavilion during the Outlaw Music Festival’s 10th anniversary tour—just days before Nelson was set to headline the 40th-anniversary Farm Aid concert in Minneapolis, airing live on CNN.
Nelson reflected on his long career, selling over 60 million albums, and shared insights into his enduring commitment to helping American farmers. “I started Farm Aid in 1985 to support small family farmers,” he said. “I could relate to what they were going through, and even today, they still need all the help they can get.” The first Farm Aid concert featured legends like Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, and B.B. King, and Nelson recalled the sense of unity it inspired among performers and audiences alike.
The country icon also discussed his creative journey, including his tribute album to his late friend Merle Haggard. “I loved all the songs, so it was easy for me,” he explained. “The musicians in Nashville knew the tracks, and everything just came together naturally.”
Despite decades in the spotlight, Nelson remains humble and grounded. He reminisced about his early days in Nashville, admitting that breaking into the music scene was far from easy. “At one point, I even thought about giving up,” he shared. “But I never took no for an answer. A winner never quits, and a quitter never wins.”
When asked about his legendary persona—the braids, the bandana, the aura of the eternal outlaw—Nelson traced it back to his Native American heritage and lifelong love of music. He also touched on his personal life, including his switch from alcohol to cannabis, noting that it became a necessary part of his routine. “You can’t smoke it everywhere, so you figure out something else,” he laughed.
Nelson’s philosophy on life and music remains simple yet profound: focus on what matters, bring people together, and never stop creating. “Music keeps me going,” he said. “It’s not work—it’s joy. After playing, everything else falls into place.”
Even at 92, Willie Nelson continues to defy expectations, performing tirelessly and spreading a message of unity, resilience, and authenticity. As he puts it, age is just a number, and the music—and the memories—carry on forever.