Willie Nelson has spoken candidly about the outlaw legend who greatly inspired him.
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Despite being country outlaws, the heavy hitters never want to take credit for being the outlaw. There is alway someone else they credit for bringing them into the genre. Even Kris Kristofferson, who has every right to appreciate the fact that he helped bring outlaw into the limelight, is very hesitant to accept any credit for what he did.
Despite his legend status, Willie Nelson is quick to big up Johnny Cash, who he's apparently been a fan of for a very long time. It's crazy to think that someone like Willie Nelson, who played in a band alongside Johnny Cash, was once a fan just like us.
In 2012, Willie Nelson spoke about Johnny Cash for We Walk the Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash. There, he shared just how big a fan he was of Johnny Cash's music and style. No doubt influencing him to become the outlaw singer he is today.
Nelson said, "I first started noticing Jonny Cash back in the 50s, maybe. I continued to be a disk jockey for several years after that, so I continued playing Johnny Cash as long as I could. I was a huge fan."
Willie Nelson Shares His Thoughts On Johnny Cash
Willie Nelson had nothing but praise for Johnny Cash. It's clear his influence has stuck with Nelson his whole life.
"I always looked at John as somebody who had been there before me, and knew what he was doing, [and] the way he wanted to do it," he said. That is the number one quality of an outlaw musician, afterall.
"I always admired, [and] respected him for doing that, and he was one of the first rebels, one of the first outlaws, if you wanna call them that, that hit Nashville."
He concluded, "I was a great fan of his not only for his music, but for his attitude."
This humble respect is what makes the outlaw music and culture so important. It's full of integrity and respect, especially among the preaching singers.
