Willie Nelson at 92: A Life, a Legacy, and a Career Told in Photos

Willie Nelson doesn’t just make music—he lives inside it.

For nearly seven decades, the country icon has remained a constant presence in American music. His journey began in the late 1950s, when he balanced songwriting with DJ gigs at radio stations across Texas and the Pacific Northwest. Determined to make his mark, Nelson eventually moved to Nashville, where he released the first of what would become more than 100 studio albums in 1962.

Beyond his remarkable output, Nelson has long used his voice for causes close to his heart. In 1985, he co-founded Farm Aid to support family farmers, and over the years he has also been an outspoken advocate for progressive political causes. Now, as he celebrates his 92nd birthday, his life and career tell a story best captured through photographs.

Willie Nelson’s Early Days

Courtesy Seth Poppel/Yearbook Library

Willie Nelson was born on April 29, 1933, in Abbott, Texas. Raised by his grandparents alongside his older sister Bobbie, music quickly became the bond that defined their childhood. While Nelson later dabbled in football during high school, music remained his true calling.

Here, he appears in his football uniform during his sophomore year at Abbott High School in 1948.

Willie Nelson and His Sister Bobbie

Courtesy Willie and Bobbie Nelson

Willie and Bobbie Nelson shared a lifelong friendship and musical partnership. From their earliest years, the siblings played together—a collaboration that would last for decades. In 1946, they posed for this photo as teenagers.

Their bond was later chronicled in their 2020 book, Me and Sister Bobbie: True Tales of the Family Band.

Leaving Texas to Chase Music

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After a brief stint in the U.S. Air Force, Nelson became a disc jockey and began recording his own music. By the early 1960s, he had relocated to Nashville, determined to break through.

He released his first two albums with Liberty Records—…And Then I Wrote (1962) and Here’s Willie Nelson (1963). In this photo, a young Nelson performs on KPHO-TV in Phoenix in December 1962.

Willie Nelson Marries Shirley Collie

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Nelson married his high school sweetheart, Martha Matthews, in 1952; the couple divorced a decade later. In 1963, he married singer Shirley Collie, pictured here. Their marriage lasted until 1971.

Signing With RCA Records

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As his songwriting reputation grew, Nelson began playing bass in Ray Price’s band. Many of his compositions became hits for other artists, including “Night Life” recorded by Price and “Crazy,” famously sung by Patsy Cline.

In 1964, Nelson signed a record deal with RCA Records, marking another pivotal step in his career.

Back to Texas—and a New Sound

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By the early 1970s, Nelson was ready for change. He returned to Texas, briefly considering a quieter life before being pulled back into music. In 1972, he signed with Atlantic Records and recorded a string of groundbreaking albums, including Shotgun Willie (1973), Phases and Stages (1974), and Red Headed Stranger (1975).

Alongside Waylon Jennings, Nelson helped define the “outlaw country” movement—music that rejected Nashville polish in favor of raw storytelling and independence.

Here, Nelson appears in the Atlantic Records studios in New York City in 1973 with Bobbie Nelson, drummer Paul English, and producer Arif Mardin.

That same year, he officially formed his band, The Family, featuring Bobbie Nelson, Mickey Raphael, Bee Spears, Jody Payne, and Paul English.

Willie Nelson on Saturday Night Live

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Nelson took the stage as musical guest on Saturday Night Live during the show’s third season in 1977, bringing outlaw country to late-night television.

Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings

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Nelson and longtime friend Waylon Jennings are seen together in New York City in April 1978—two pioneers whose partnership helped reshape country music.