For the hundredth time (give or take a few dozen), Willie Nelson wants the world to know he is very much alive — and more than a little tired of being prematurely declared otherwise.
The 92-year-old country legend brushed off the latest wave of online death hoaxes with a bit of humor on Monday, Dec. 1. In a playful social media post, he shared several photos of himself lounging on a sofa, his long hair down, looking relaxed and unbothered. His caption?
“If you believe those AI death stories one more time …”
Translation: Folks, stop burying me before I’m ready.
Anyone who’s spent time on Facebook lately knows exactly what he’s talking about. These AI-generated fake “R.I.P Willie Nelson” graphics show up constantly — dramatic photos, somber fonts, and all. One day it’s Willie, the next it’s another beloved legend. The images look just real enough to fool anyone scrolling in a hurry.
But Willie isn’t going anywhere.
With the rise of AI content, separating truth from fiction has gotten tougher, but Willie pointedly reminded fans he’s still kicking — and still joking about it. After all, this isn’t new territory for him. He’s been the target of death hoaxes for at least a decade, sometimes multiple times per year.
He even turned it into music.
His 2017 song “Still Not Dead” pokes fun at the rumors with lines like:
“I woke up still not dead again today /
The news said I was gone, to my dismay /
Don’t bury me, I’ve got a show to play …”
That very song plays over his new post — a perfect soundtrack to his point.
Back when the track came out, Willie joked in an interview with CBS, “I’ve been killed several times throughout the years!” He explained that the tune was his way of finding humor in the never-ending speculation about his health.
And that was when he was just 84.
As he’s said many times, he doesn’t measure life by age:
“It’s not how old you are — it’s how you feel.”
And clearly, Willie still feels pretty darn good. Just last month, he dropped his newest project: Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle, an album of Merle Haggard covers and the 78th solo studio album of his remarkable career.
So no — Willie Nelson isn’t gone.
He’s working, recording, lounging on sofas, cracking jokes… and outliving every rumor the internet throws at him.