Off The Record
Willie Nelson Confirms Why He Is Still Touring At 90 Years Old
Willie Nelson has been performing for over sixty years, but it hasn’t slowed him down one bit.
The legendary musician will soon reach 90 years old, but that hasn’t stopped him from working as tirelessly as ever to create new music and give his devoted fan base as many chances as possible to see him perform live.
The next landmark birthday will be celebrated on the road by Nelson, who got his first major recording contract with Liberty Records in 1962.
In a recent interview with AARP, the celebrity addressed the topic, saying that while he didn’t “have to” work, doing so was beneficial to his health.
“Working is really good for me, no matter what kind of show it is,” he said.
“The fact that I’ll be there for two days with a lot of my good friends coming out…saying hello and singing with me makes it a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to it.”
It’s not unheard of for famous performers to keep working well into their later years (Dick Van Dyke (97), Michael Caine (89), and David Attenborough (96) are just a few examples), but there is a big difference between doing voiceover work for a movie or TV show and headlining a concert tour.
However, Nelson keeps getting bookings and putting on great shows. That’s very impressive for a guy who’s about to enter his ninth decade on Earth.
When asked what she thought about reaching 90, the country singer said:
“Norman Lear, a good friend of mine, turned 100 not long ago, and I told him, ‘I’ve been telling everybody it’s just a number,” the singer told AARP. “Am I right?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, it’s just a number.’”
The star, who was born in Texas, added that he is eager to get back on the road and play in different cities.
“Jokingly, I retire after every tour,” Willie said. “But I’m always ready to go back again. I like the bus. I have everything I need on the bus. I never have to go into a hotel room anywhere. It’s not that bad.”
Even if it’s not terrible, the fact that Willie Nelson can perform in front of a sold-out crowd despite the immense pressure must be inspiring in and of itself.
Wow, what a voice! If I live to be that old and can still sing even half as well as he does, I will consider my life a success.
It’s amazing that Nelson can still belt out a tune after all these years in the business.
“I think singing is good for my voice,” he even said in a recent interview.
“I don’t do anything to harm it much anymore. If you don’t use it, you lose it.”
I, for one, want to send Willie Nelson warm wishes on the occasion of his 90th birthday.
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