Willie Nelson through the years

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

1 of 90

Willie Nelson takes the stage during "Fire Relief, The Concert For Central Texas" at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas, Monday, Oct. 17, 2011 as part of a mega-concert to raise money for victims of recent Central Texas wildfires.

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(Deborah Cannon/American-Statesman)

Willie Nelson takes the stage during "Fire Relief, The Concert For Central Texas" at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas, Monday, Oct. 17, 2011 as part of a mega-concert to raise money for victims of recent Central Texas wildfires.

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(Deborah Cannon/American-Statesman)

Willie Nelson performs at Fire Relief The Concert for Central Texas at the Frank Erwin Center on Monday, October 17, 2011.

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(Courtesy of Univesity of Texas Sports Information)

Willie Nelson, Darrell Royal, Andy Williams , Bob Hope, Robert Sakowitz and D. Sanders at a golf tournament in 1988.

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(Alberto Martinez/Statesman-Statesman)

Willie Nelson and the Austin Symphony christen the new Austin City Limits studio at the W Hotel on Feb. 13. 2011.

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(Alberto Martinez/Statesman-Statesman)

A woman from the audience hands Willie Nelson a bouquet of flowers just before he began playing. Nelson and the Austin Symphony christened the new Austin City Limits studio at the W Hotel on Feb. 13. 2011.

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(Jay Janner/American-Statesman)

This Willie Nelson Boulevard street sign, photographed Tuesday July 6, 2010, is one of several such signs that were installed last week along Second Street, which was given the honorary name Willie Nelson Boulevard.

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(Associated Press)

Legendary crooner Willie Nelson performs with his son Micah Nelson's band, The Reflectacles, on Saturday, May 22, 2010 at Charley's in Maui, Hawaii. A spokeswoman said Nelson, got a hair cut while hanging loose in Hawaii.

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(Associated Press)

Legendary crooner Willie Nelson performs with his son Micah Nelson's band, The Reflectacles, on Saturday, May 22, 2010 at Charley's in Maui, Hawaii. A spokeswoman said Nelson, got a hair cut while hanging loose in Hawaii.

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(Courtesy of The Wittliff Collections/ Texas State University -San Marcos)

Willie Nelson and Jim Hightower in the radio studios of Hightower Radio, KVET, 1994.

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(Donald R. Winslow)

Jazz singer Kat Edmonson with Willie Nelson at the Nobelity Project's Artists and Filmmakers Dinner to honor Nelson on Sunday night April 11, 2010, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin, TX.

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(Deborah Cannon/American-Statesman)

Willie Nelson and Backyard owner Tim O'Connor at the final show at The Backyard on Sunday, October 26, 2008.

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(Berk/ Lane Entertainment)

Promotional hand out photo of Willie Nelson and Matthew McConaughey in Berk/ Lane Entertainment's Surfer, Dude.

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(Earl Gibson III/Associated Press)

Willie Nelson, left, performs with Wynton Marsalis and bassist Carlos Henriquez, right, at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 9, 2008.

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(Bill Waugh/Associated Press)

Willie Nelson performs at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2008, Friday, June 13, 2008, in Manchester, Tenn.

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(Burton Wilson)

Willie Nelson backstage at Armadillo World Headquarters, Austin, Texas in 1972.

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(Scott Newton)

Willie Nelson and Charley Pride host a Country Music Association party at Soap Creek Saloon. Austin, Texas 1976.

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(Scott Newton)

Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings on the verge of starting something big, at the Bull Creek Party Barn, Austin, Texas, 1975.

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(Jay Janner/American-Statesman)

Left to right, Ray Benson, Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett perform at the Grand Opening of the Long Center on Saturday March 29, 2008.

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(Jay Janner/American-Statesman)

Willie Nelson performs at the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo on Tuesday, March 4, 2008

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(Jay Janner/American-Statesman)

Willie Nelson performs at the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo on Tuesday, March 4, 2008

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(Robert Godwin/for American-Statesman)

Nobelity Dinner at Four Seasons Hotel. Bud Shrake, Harry Anderson, Willie Nelson, Turk Pipkin and Owen Wilson.

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(Contributed item)

Hand out family photo of Bobbie (left) and Willie Nelson circa 1973

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(Jay Janner/American-Statesman)

Willie Nelson performs "On the Road Again" after accepting the Bridging Divides Award from UT's Project on Conflict Resolution at the Frank Erwin Center on Friday Oct. 19, 2007

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(Mark Humphrey/Associated Press)

Country music star Willie Nelson is honored at the BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007

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(Jay Janner/American-Statesman)

Willie Nelson relaxes on his tour bus before performing at the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo on Tuesday, March 4, 2008.

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(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Willie Nelson performs for the crowd at Brooke Army Medical Center during a Purple Heart ceremony Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2005, in San Antonio. Nelson was in San Antonio for a stock show concert later in the evening.

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(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Farm Aid founder Willie Nelson, right, and co-founder John Mellencamp held a news conference announcing that Farm Aid would hold its 20th anniversary celebration in Illinois, Monday, July 11, 2005, in Chicago.

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(Jerry Fitzgerald 1996 FOX BROADCASTING )

Willie Nelson (R), recording with Mike Judge (L), made a special guest voice appearance as himself on the 'King of the Hill' episode 'Hank's Got the Willies' which aired Sunday, Feb. 16, 1996 on FOX.

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(Kevin Virobik-Adams AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson played a rollicking set to a sold out crowd at the Hang 'Em High Saloon on Sixth Street on January 26, 1996. Bruce Springsteen and Joe Ely joined him on his bus after the show, but a rumored stage reunion failed to materialize.

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(Sung Park AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson with Governor Ann Richards in April of 1993.

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(CBS)

Country music star Willie Nelson joins Jane Seymour when he reprises his role as U.S. Marshall Elias Burch, on 'Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, on Saturday, April 25, 1998.

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(Ralph Barrera AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Who is this Santa Claus you ask, it's none other than the Red-Headed Stranger himself, Willie Nelson on December 2, 1998.

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(Jay Godwin AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson at Antone's Club on July 2, 1998.

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(Lynne Dobson AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson smiles warmly at the crowd during a TNN taping at the Broken Spoke on June 2, 1998.

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(Taylor Johnson AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson at the start of his 10K run for Farm Aid at Auditorium Shores on October 21, 2001. Willie participated in the 2K "mosey" but ran across the starting line.

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(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman, left, and country singer Willie Nelson make a joint appearance at Nelson's ranch in Spicewood, Texas, on Nov. 4, 2006.

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(Tom Pennington FORT WORTH STAR TRIBUNE)

Wille Nelson exits the stage after being presented a city flag and proclamation by Fort Worth City Councilman Jim Lane during Willie Nelson's 4th of July Picnic Sunday, July 4, 2004.

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(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Willie Nelson on April 20, 1993.

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(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Singer Willie Nelson performs for the audience at the 14th Annual Environmental Media Awards at the Ebell Theater of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2004. Nelson received the Missions In Music Award for his commitment to family farms and environmental causes.

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(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Farm Aid founders Willie Nelson, right, and Neil Young respond to a joke about corporate farming during a news conference Saturday, Sept. 18, 2004, at The White River Amphitheatre in Auburn, Wash.

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(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Willie Nelson greets fans as he arrives on the main stage for his performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on Sunday, April 29, 2007.

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(Jay Janner AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Country music legend Willie Nelson (right) greets diner Doug Holloway at the grand opening of Nelson's Texas Roadhouse restaurant in Austin on Thursday Dec. 16, 2004.

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(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

In this photo from Hard Rock Cafes, Willie Nelson signs the guitar wall at the Hard Rock Cafe New York, Monday, June, 4, 2007. Nelson headlined the New York stop of Hard Rock's Ambassadors of Rock Tour in September of that year.

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(AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson in 1962.

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(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Country music singer Willie Nelson performs during a concert at the United Farmer and Rancher Congress being held in St. Louis on September 12, 1986.

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(Contributed item)

Country music legend Willie Nelson performs Friday, April 4, 2003, in Grand Prairie, Texas.

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(Contributed item)

In this photo released by Hard Rock International, Willie Nelson performs at the Hard Rock Cafe as part of Hard Rock's Ambassadors of Rock concert tour featuring Willie Nelson and Friends, Monday, Sept. 10, 2007, in New York.

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(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Willie Nelson performs at Farm Aid on Randall's Island Sunday, September 9, 2007 in New York.

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(Sung Park AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Music star Willie Nelson was filming a country music video in downtown Austin in December of 2001. Willie Nelson rides a horse down E. Ninth Street as "extras" walk through the scene.

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(Taylor Johnson AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Music star Willie Nelson was filming a country music video in downtown Austin in December of 2001. Willie Nelson waits for his cue to ride a horse down E. Ninth Street as "extras" walk through the scene.

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(Sung Park AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings at KLRU studio during the taping of the Willie Nelson 60th birthday special in April of 1993.

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(Rebecca McEntee AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson was inducted into the second annual Austin Film Society's Texas Film Hall of Fame in March of 2002. At the time Nelson had 20 feature films under his belt, including his performance in Honeysuckle Rose.

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(Rebecca McEntee AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson on his bus before his concert, with a New Balance shoe on his table with his name embroidered on it. He participated in 10K and Mosey run for the Farm Aid run and concert event, in Austin, in August of 2002. The shoe with his name on it was given to him at this event courtesy of New Balance and RunTex.

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(Peter Yang AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson plays Austin Music Hall during SXSW 2003.

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(Deborah Cannon AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Lucinda Williams and Willie Nelson listen to Billy Joe Shaver's acceptance speech after they presented him with the Hall of Fame award during the Austin Music Awards on Wednesday Monday, March 12, 2003.

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(Sung Park AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Ray Charles with Willie Nelson at Willie Nelson's 60th Birthday Special taping at KLRU studio in April of 1993.

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(COX NEWS SERVICE)

Singer Willie Nelson performing at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston.

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(COX NEWS SERVICE)

Singer Willie Nelson performing at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston.

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(Brian K. Diggs AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson performs at the Frank Erwin Center during the Neighbors in Need Benefit Concert Wednesday, September 25, 2005.

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(Laura Skelding AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson played at the Bacchus Ball on February 26, 2006 in the New Orleans Convention Center. Between songs he shook hands with the crowd and some people handed him their mardi gras beads.

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(Laura Skelding AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson played at the Bacchus Ball on February 26, 2006 in the New Orleans Convention Center. Between songs he shook hands with the crowd and some people handed him their mardi gras beads.

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(Jay Janner AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson pefforms at his Fourth of July Picnic at Two River Canyon Ampitheatre in 2003.

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(Brian K. Diggs AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson, left, is directed Sam Um, right, during a scene for Um's movie "Fighting with Anger" Wednesday night. The scene is being shot at the Austin State Hospital. Nelson is playing opposite of Kelli Fleming (back to camera.) September 13, 2006.

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(Brian K. Diggs AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson, left, acts with Kelli Fleming (back to camera) during a scene for Um's movie "Fighting with Anger" Wednesday night. The scene is being shot at the Austin State Hospital. September 13, 2006.

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(Brian K. Diggs AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson, left, is directed Sam Um, right, during a scene for Um's movie "Fighting with Anger" Wednesday night. The scene is being shot at the Austin State Hospital. Nelson is playing opposite of Kelli Fleming (back to camera.) September 13, 2006.

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(Jay Janner AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson performs at the ACL Fest on Saturday, September 16, 2006.

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(Jay Janner AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson performs at the ACL Fest on Saturday, September 16, 2006

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(Sung Park AMERICAN-STATESMAN )

Willie Nelson during taping of the Willie Nelson 60th birthday special at KLRU in April of 1993.

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(Deborah Cannon AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, left, laughs at a comment made by Willie Nelson during a press conference at the Austin Music Hall in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, January 3, 2004.

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(Ha Lam FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson performs at the Austin Music Hall on November 15, 2004.

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(Ha Lam FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson performs at the Austin Music Hall on November 15, 2004.

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(Jay Janner AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Country music legend Willie Nelson gets to know one-year-old Andrew Dittmar at the grand opening of Nelson's Texas Roadhouse restaurant in Austin on Thursday Dec. 16, 2004. Andrew's mother, Kimberly Dittmar, won a KVET contest to get to meet Willie.

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(Jay Janner AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Country music legend Willie Nelson (left) and singer Pat Green visit in front a a mural of country superstars at the grand opening of Willie Nelson's Texas Roadhouse restaurant on Thursday, December 16, 2004.

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(Larry Kolvoord AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson at the Backyard in 2003.

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(Michelle Patterson FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson has a speed bag mounted on the ceiling of his bedroom in his tour bus so he can practice his punches for fight scenes in Newline Cinema's western "Life Is A Hoss." Nelson, who earned his black belt in Tai Kwon Do at the age of 70, is working again with Master Teacher Sam Um of Austin. March 2005.

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(Michelle Patterson FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson works out with Master Teacher Sam Um at Um's Gym Kick & Box in Austin. Nelson, who earned his black belt in Tai Kwon Do at the age of 70, was preparing for fight scenes in Newline Cinema's western "Life Is A Hoss" which have been choreographed by Um for the movie. March 2005.

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(Michelle Patterson AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson works out with Master Teacher Sam Um at Um's Gym Kick & Box in Austin. Nelson, who earned his black belt in Tai Kwon Do at the age of 70, was preparing for fight scenes in Newline Cinema's western "Life Is A Hoss" which have been choreographed by Um for the movie. March 2005.

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(Matt Rourke AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson performs at Willie Nelson's Tsunami Relief Concert at the Austin Music Hall on Sunday January 9, 2005.

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(Matt Rourke AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson performs at Willie Nelson's Tsunami Relief Concert at the Austin Music Hall on Sunday January 9, 2005.

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(Matt Rourke AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson performs at Willie Nelson's Tsunami Relief Concert at the Austin Music Hall on Sunday January 9, 2005.

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(Ed Malcik AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson joins Doug Sahm on stage at Willie's 1976 Picnic.

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(Linda Kerr AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson (l) and Texas Gov. Price Daniel Sr. Photographed in February of 1974.

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(Linda Kerr AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Mayor Butler and Willie Nelson, photographed in 1974.

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(AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson's Fourth of July picnic in 1973.

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(AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson in 1962.

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(AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson in 1985.

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(AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson in 1982.

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(AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Country legend Willie Nelson greets the crowd while taking the stage Tuesday evening, December 30, 2003, at Texas Roadhouse in Owensboro, Ky.

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(Joey Ivansco AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson is flanked by Rosalynn Carter, left, and former President Jimmy Carter as they sing together during the end of a free concert in Plains,Ga. on September 9, 2007. Nelson was in Plains for the taping of a television special and a free concert for the residents of Carters hometown.

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(Ha Lam AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

Willie Nelson at the 4th of July Picnic at Luckenbach in 1999.

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