← Back to explore

Willie Nelson

Acting

Born April 30, 1933 · Abbott, Texas, USA

Also known as The Highwaymen · Willie Hugh Nelson

Biography

Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He was one of the main figures of the outlaw country subgenre that developed in the late 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restrictions of the Nashville sound. The critical success of his album Shotgun Willie (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger (1975) and Stardust (1978), made Nelson one of the most recognized artists in country music. 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.

Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA

Awards & recognition

  • Rock and Roll Hall of Fame · 2023
  • Gershwin Prize · 2015
  • Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award · 2012
  • Grammy Hall of Fame · 2010
  • Americana Lifetime Achievement Award — Songwriting · 2007
Show all 88 awards →
  • Grammy Award — Best Country Collaboration with Vocals · 2007
  • Grammy Hall of Fame · 2007
  • Grammy Hall of Fame · 2006
  • Grammy Award — Best Country Collaboration with Vocals · 2002
  • Grammy Hall of Fame · 2001
  • Kennedy Center Honors · 1998
  • Grammy Legend Award · 1990
  • American Music Award of Merit · 1989
  • Favorite Country Male Artist · 1987
  • Favorite Country Male Artist · 1986
  • Favorite Country Single · 1986
  • Favorite Country Male Artist · 1984
  • American Music Award — Favorite Country Album · 1983
  • American Music Award — Favorite Pop/Rock Album · 1983
  • Favorite Country Male Artist · 1982
  • Favorite Country Single · 1982
  • Grammy Award — Best Male Country Vocal Performance · 1982
  • Grammy Award — Best Country Song · 1980
  • Country Music Association Award — Entertainer of the Year · 1979
  • Grammy Award — Best Male Country Vocal Performance · 1978
  • Grammy Award — Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal · 1978
  • Favorite Country Single · 1977
  • Grammy Award — Best Male Country Vocal Performance · 1975
  • Grammy Award — Best Americana Album · 2010 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album · 2009 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals · 2009 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Americana Album · 2009 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Country Collaboration with Vocals · 2007 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Country Album · 2006 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Country Collaboration with Vocals · 2005 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Male Country Vocal Performance · 2005 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Country Collaboration with Vocals · 2004 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Male Country Vocal Performance · 2004 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Country Collaboration with Vocals · 2003 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Country Album · 2003 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Country Collaboration with Vocals · 2002 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Country Album · 2002 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Male Country Vocal Performance · 2001 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Country Album · 2001 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Music Film · 2000 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Pop Instrumental Performance · 1999 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Country Collaboration with Vocals · 1999 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Male Country Vocal Performance · 1997 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album · 1994 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Country Collaboration with Vocals · 1990 · nominated
  • People's Choice Award — Favorite Country Artist · 1990 · nominated
  • Favorite Country Male Artist · 1987 · nominated
  • American Music Award — Favorite Country Album · 1986 · nominated
  • Country Music Association Award — Entertainer of the Year · 1986 · nominated
  • Favorite Country Male Artist · 1986 · nominated
  • Favorite Country Single · 1986 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal · 1985 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Male Country Vocal Performance · 1985 · nominated
  • Favorite Country Male Artist · 1984 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal · 1984 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Male Country Vocal Performance · 1984 · nominated
  • People's Choice Award — Favorite Country Artist · 1984 · nominated
  • American Music Award — Favorite Pop/Rock Album · 1983 · nominated
  • American Music Award — Favorite Country Album · 1983 · nominated
  • Country Music Association Award — Entertainer of the Year · 1983 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal · 1983 · nominated
  • People's Choice Award — Favorite Country Artist · 1983 · nominated
  • Country Music Association Award — Entertainer of the Year · 1982 · nominated
  • Favorite Country Male Artist · 1982 · nominated
  • Favorite Country Single · 1982 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Record of the Year · 1982 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Male Country Vocal Performance · 1982 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal · 1982 · nominated
  • Academy Award — Best Original Song · 1981 · nominated
  • Favorite Country Male Artist · 1981 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Male Country Vocal Performance · 1981 · nominated
  • Country Music Association Award — Entertainer of the Year · 1980 · nominated
  • Favorite Country Male Artist · 1980 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Country Song · 1980 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Male Country Vocal Performance · 1980 · nominated
  • Country Music Association Award — Entertainer of the Year · 1979 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Male Country Vocal Performance · 1979 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal · 1979 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal · 1978 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Male Country Vocal Performance · 1978 · nominated
  • Favorite Country Single · 1977 · nominated
  • Country Music Association Award — Entertainer of the Year · 1976 · nominated
  • Grammy Award — Best Male Country Vocal Performance · 1975 · nominated

Filmography50+ titles

Willie Nelson & Family

2023as Self

VH1 Storytellers

2005as Self

The Highwaymen: Live at Nassau Coliseum

1990as Self

We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song

1985as Self

Johnny Cash: American Rebel

2015as Self

CMT Crossroads

2002as Self

The Simpsons

1989as Willie Nelson (voice)

The Greatest Night in Pop

2024as Self (archive footage)

Monk

2002as Willie Nelson

Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl

2016as Self

Space Ghost Coast to Coast

1993as Self

A Poem Is a Naked Person

1974as Self

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman

1993as Marshall Elias Burch

Adventures in Wonderland

1992as The Troubadour

Streetwise

1984Executive Producer

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962as Self

Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration

1993as Self

Quincy

2018as Self

Broken Bridges

2006as self

King of the Hill

1997as Willie Nelson (voice)

Miami Vice

1984as Texas Ranger Jake Pierson

Pure Country: Pure Heart

2017as Himself

The Best Democracy Money Can Buy

2016as Self

Thief

1981as David 'Okla' Bertinneau

My Darling Vivian

2020as Self (archive footage)

Supermensch

2013as Self

Honky Tonk Heaven: Legend of the Broken Spoke

2016as Self

The Muppets.

2015as Self

The Colbert Report

2005as Self (uncredited)

Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President

2020as Self

A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!

2008as Self

Squidbillies

2005Theme Song Performance

Wag the Dog

1997as Johnny Dean

Saturday Night Live

1975as Self - Host & Musical Guest

The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour

1969as Self

Dolly Parton: A MusiCares Tribute

2021as Self

Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas

2022as Self

Outlaw Justice

1999as Lee Walker

The Daily Show

1996as Self

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me

1999as Willie Nelson

Half Baked

1998as Historian Smoker

Austin City Limits

1975as Self

The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning

2007as Uncle Jesse

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

2015as Self - Guest/Musical Guest

Lost in London

2017as Willie Nelson

Real Time with Bill Maher

2003as Self

This Is Pop

2021as Self (archive footage)

Barbarosa

1982as Barbarosa

Waiting for the Miracle to Come

2018as Jimmy Riggs

Swing Vote

2008as Willie Nelson