Getting into an Americana frame of mind, this New Years day 2026 with a set from Willie Nelson as he appeared on the pilot episode of Austin City Limits from October 17, 1974.
Aside from being an American institution; one that transcends time and genres, Willie Nelson has been one of the most celebrated figures in Country Music, and popular music in general for over 50 years – still with us – still a presence – still a National Treasure.
Early on, Willie Nelson 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…