Take a Trip Down Memory Lane With These Young Photos of Willie Nelson
The singer is turning 91!
There are arguably two monumental days that signify another year has gone by. The first is obviously New Year's Eve. The second, however, is Willie Nelson's birthday. 😂 The country icon is turning 91-years-old on April 29, but it hardly seems that way. The country star is still putting out new songs and he's even performing at Stagecoach—country music's biggest festival—in 2024. It's easy to forget just how long Willie has been doing this, so go ahead an embark on a trip down memory lane and look through these photos of him during the beginning of his career to now.
Willie is known for many things. For starters, he's responsible for writing some of the best country songs of all time, including Patsy Cline's hit "Crazy." He's also made some famous songs of his own, including his Grammy-award winning rendition of "Always on My Mind." And he's collaborated with some of the biggest country stars out there, like Dolly Parton (in both songs and movies!), Bob Dylan, and Toby Keith. Don't even get us started on his filmography. Willie has starred in so many Western movies and family flicks that he was even inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame.
It's hard to wrap our heads around just how much Willie has accomplished in his decades-long career. These photos of young and seasoned Willie Nelson do a great job at highlighting just how long he's been at the center of the game!
Take a look at these young photos of some other fan-favorites:
- Incredible Photos of Young Dolly Parton Through the Years
- Photos of Young Harrison Ford That Prove He's a Legend
- Throwback Photos of the Drummond Family That You Need to See
1961
Whoa! We almost didn't recognize Willie without his trademark long locks, but the guitar is a helpful clue! This was the year that Patsy Cline made Willie's country music standard "Crazy" a hit.
1962
This photo is actually so sweet when you realize it's of Willie holding up his debut album, And Then I Wrote.
1964
Willie is all smiles in this pic. You would be, too, if you had just signed a major record deal!
1965
We can tell he definitely had a thing for suits back in the '60s.
1966
Okay, so Willie had a thing for suits and cheesing in photos. Was it a '60s trend?! 😂
1967
Even with this photo as evidence, it's still somehow hard to picture Willie Nelson in a turtleneck. 🤔
1970
Willie has always been known for his charismatic stage presence.
1971
He was clearly as passionate about performing back then as he is now.
1973
Bring on the cowboy hats! We're starting to see a change in Willie's style with this one. 🤠
1974
See, he's used to giving a show to the biggest of crowds. This one was taken during the second annual July 4th Picnic, this one being in College Station, Texas.
1975
Pictured here are two legends and their acoustic guitars. We wish we could go back in time to watch Willie and Johnny Cash perform this iconic duet live!
1976
Imagine locking eyes with Willie during one of his concerts. That's something you can brag about to your friends countless times, and it would never get old!
1977
Willie Nelson and Mary Kay Price seem like a musical match made in heaven, right? Do yourself a favor, and search the web for their Saturday Night Live episode—you won't regret it.
1978
Little did he know he was setting the standard of style for country men everywhere.
1980
New decade, new hair. The famous braids have finally made an appearance, y'all! 👏
1981
You might be confused as to why Willie is in jail in this photo, but it's actually just a screen grab from a movie. Willie played an inmate named Okla in the 1981 film, Thief.
1982
So the braids may have been a quick experiment for him at first! (But we obviously know that they come back at some point. 😉) Either way, have you ever seen someone so lost in their craft?
1983
An actor he was! This was taken from the set of Songwriter, and shows Willie rehearsing for the musical drama alongside costar, Kris Kristofferson.
1990
He's giving Harry Styles vibes.
1993
What would you have worn if you had the chance to appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno? For Willie, the choice was obvious. Give him a bandana and his red, white, and blue guitar strap, and he's all set!
Josiah Soto is the assistant editor of news and social for The Pioneer Woman. He helps manage the website’s social channels, in addition to writing high-performing news and entertainment content daily.
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