Willie Nelson is amazing. At 92, he is not slowing down a bit. His masterful songwriting ("Crazy") and performing defy compare. But there is another trait he has that bears mentioning. He is defiantly his own person. Nelson has joyfully flouted norms of conventional behavior again and again. He never looks back, either. The more eyebrows get raised by his antics, the better he seems to enjoy it. If there was ever someone who really merited the label "outlaw," Willie Nelson sure does. (At least in some ways!) He does not obey all the rules, he cheerfully breaks some. And we love the guy for doing what we wish we had the nerve to!
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Here are a few colorful. larger-than-life yarns that illustrate what I mean. Whether some of them are true or partly authentic may be a matter of conjecture. But they are part of Willie Nelson's lore for the ages.
Nelson Allegedly Smoked a Joint on the White House Roof During the Carter Presidency
There are probably worse things than this to do, but it is a little beyond the pale. Per Ranker, "Sources confirm that while he was a guest staying in Jimmy Carter's White House, Nelson smoked a joint on the roof." Hmmmm....
He Reportedly Had an Absolutely Whopping Unpaid Tax Bill
Nelson supposedly racked up an eye-popping $16.7 million that he had not paid in taxes in 1990, per the outlet. That huge sum "was one of the largest individual tax bills ever accumulated at the time." Nelson's lawyer got that amount whittled down somewhat, but the singer nevertheless still owed plenty. As a result, the IRS took his assets. To bring in some quickly-needed bucks, Nelson dropped an LP. It was titled Who'll Buy My Memories: The IRS Tapes. Now that is genuinely outlaw-style cheeky!
He Co-Founded Farm Aid
Nelson was not afraid of challenging the status quo, especially when he thought it needed changing. The Washington bigwigs did not faze him at all. He stood up for the nation's farmers. Nelson joined with John Mellencamp and Neil Young to start Farm Aid in 1985 to raise money and awareness for the industrious people who grow food for our families. Then he went to Capitol Hill to bring the situation to the attention of lawmakers, per Saving Country Music. Nelson's unstinting efforts, combined with those of others, kept many farmers going. His outlaw outlook served him well.
Nelson Repudiated the Nashville Establishment With His Album 'Red-Headed Stranger'
In 1975, Nelson put together a landmark country music album that not only helped define his career, but reinforced the anti-Nashville playbook. Red-Headed Stranger was a key milestone for him. Per Saving Country Music, the LP was refreshingly without fussiness, slickness, and over-the-top production values. It was bare-bones country. And Nelson recorded it in a minimal budget in a Texas studio. One single from it, "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," made it all the way to number 1. It's still a beloved Willie Nelson classic.
