The Late Johnny Bush on How He Wrote Willie Nelson’s Perennial Show Opener, ‘Whiskey River’
‘Whiskey River’ had only one verse and a chorus, but Willie Nelson said that was all it needed.
‘Whiskey River’ had only one verse and a chorus, but Willie Nelson said that was all it needed.
Nelson’s rendition of ‘On the Road Again’ gets special treatment for this year’s all-virtual festival.
In the first episode of our new series, the Grammy-winning artist talks about writing sad songs and tells a great dirty joke she learned from Nelson himself.
An Austin man ponders the unthinkable.
We didn’t really need a reason to write a bunch of stories about the Red Headed Stranger. But we had a few.
Over the decades, he and Trigger have created an unmistakable—and uncannily human—sound.
Everyone knew Willie could write great songs and sing them too. But no one—except Willie, of course—believed he could masterfully cover Gershwin and Ellington.
The man from Abbott has never forgotten his humble roots—and has tirelessly devoted himself to helping others.
Before he moved his home and his headquarters out to the Hill Country, Willie conducted an experiment in communal living right in the heart of Austin. It was as crazy as you might expect—and helped turn a sleepy college town into the Live Music Capital of the World.
Learning to love Texas’s most iconic country musician, one song at a time.
Simple is simply moving to me: How Willie does so much with so little.
Join senior editor John Spong and artists you love for intimate conversations about the Willie songs that mean the most to them.
The progeny of two country stars, Payne, who grew up in East Texas, writes songs informed by his struggle with substance abuse, trauma, and redemption.
A portrait of the man, in the words of those who know him best.
Senior editor John Spong is the brains behind our special thirteenth issue of Texas Monthly devoted to the life and music of Willie Nelson. The issue publishes in August.
After living most of my life in Texas, I finally gave Willie Nelson a serious listen and learned a few things about my Nigerian mom.
Over the last three decades, a radio deejay has helped transform Brady into a place where twangy instrumentals reign.
The recording career of country music’s greatest artist, surveyed, sized up, and sorted on the occasion of his 87th birthday.
The redheaded stranger is socially distancing—thank you for your concern.
On April 25, an uninterrupted hour on KUTX delved into the backstories of some favorite Willie songs—including a few you’ve probably never heard.
Plus, Willie, Lizzo, and Kacey Musgraves announce virtual concerts, the ATX Television Festival moves online, and more.
The national treasure is even headlining an online benefit concert this evening.
Lizzo and Gary Clark Jr., who each took home three awards, delivered searing performances along with Demi Lovato and Tanya Tucker.
On the National Podcast of Texas, the author of ‘When Angels Sing’ and the co-founder of the Nobelity Project on the spirit of Christmas, global philanthropy, and casting Willie Nelson as Santa Claus.
Texans had a banner year for inimitable music releases.
Forget the tortured artist clichés. The critically acclaimed musician began making the best albums of his life when he settled in Texas and decided to try being happy.
The pair have been inseparable for decades.
The country star's Christmas show premieres later this week.
Kacey Musgraves and Maren Morris took home some of the biggest awards of the night.
The story behind the story behind Austinite Mike Shea’s three seconds of international fame.
The ’Country Music’ documentarian on the Outlaws, forgotten forces, and how Texas country music could bring us all together.
From Ernest Tubb to Bob Wills to Willie, Texas has produced a jukebox worth of classics. Here are the best.
On this week’s National Podcast of Texas, the music legend details his lifelong love for westerns and his family’s golden rules.
We watched the recently restored 1986 film with Willie Nelson and fans in Luck, where it all happened.
I spoke to the man who shot the photo that inspired the song covered on Willie Nelson’s new album. (He’s my dad.)
The Red Headed Stranger honors his fellow Texas troubadour with two tracks on his new album.
Yes, we’re taking this week’s overblown Twitter fight way too seriously.
The singer takes about fifty people to church on his Luck Ranch to listen to 'Ride Me Back Home' and share a few stories.
“It’s really out of control. It’s bad,” said one official of the surge in families streaming across the border.
Somehow, it took until 2019 for this to happen.
And it's strangely bipartisan! Really!
And it wasn't just because of Willie Nelson. We spent time on the ground at Austin's Auditorium Shores on Saturday night, and here's what we found.
...and they've loved him long before Willie Nelson stepped up.
A California man wonders why people are angry at everyone's favorite Texas country artist
On this week’s podcast, Andy Langer talks with the Asleep at the Wheel leader about the tricky intersection of music and politics.
The Red-Headed Stranger announced he’d be playing a rally for Beto O’Rourke. What happened next was predictable.
Willie Nelson, Leon Bridges, Post Malone, Shakey Graves, and Okkervil River all put out new records in an eight-day span.
If anybody deserves two cakes, it’s Willie.
The music icon talks to us about how he’s able to continue writing—and touring—well into his eighties.
Three years after learning the song in a cabin, he plays it a lot more confidently in the studio.