Willie Nelson Opens Up About Dealing With Loss in His New Album… “I’m Not Afraid of Dying”
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On November 1, Willie Nelson released his latest album, Last Leaf on the Tree.
At 91, Willie Nelson is still making music. His latest release marks the 153rd album of his long career, but this one holds special meaning. His son Micah produced the entire album, which dives majorly into themes of love and loss.
While working on the album, Willie and his team captured moments of the process, filming Willie and Micah in the studio.
During these candid sessions, the two opened up about the thoughts and emotions behind creating such a personal album.
“Long ago, my father discovered a little hidden door behind his mind, like a secret outlaw fortress where everythingâs cool. And heâs always got one foot rooted in that place,” Micah shared. “Music, just like nature, goes in cycles. It feels like this record has always been there, waiting. To me, the ultimate way to connect with him is to be creative together.”
When it was time to start writing and picking songs for the album, Micah said he wanted to be extra thoughtful about what was recorded for this special project with his father.
“It wasnât just my album that he was singing on,” Micah continued. “My challenge is to be more like him in the sense that he can say so much with so little. So I really wanted to make sure that with this record, underneath all the experimental production, there was a great lyric, a great melody, and a great storyâthatâs where we connect.”
For Willie, this experience was also unlike anything he had ever done. He shared that getting the chance to work alongside his son was “as good as it gets.”
“Your first thought is, can I see myself doing that? But you have to listen. Imagine what you want, then get out of the way. I think we read each other pretty well, you know, and I can tell what heâs thinking, and I think he can pretty much tell what Iâm thinking most of the time. Being there with him in the studio, actually hearing and seeing what heâs doing, playing music with him…thatâs as good as it gets.”
With such an emotional album, Willie and his son also touched on some difficult topics. One in particular that Willie hasnât shied away from is death. He has discussed it before, often sharing how he has dealt with outliving many of his friends and family.
“I never felt I was alone. Weâre all gonna die, itâs just a matter of when. Iâm 91, almost 92, and Iâm not afraid of dying. Iâm not afraid of anything.”
The country legend definitely experienced every emotion possible throughout this project. While talking about death and loss can be taboo, Willie felt it was necessary to embrace these tough subjects and use this opportunity to face them head-on.
“I wanted it to be a cosmic country record, but rooted deep in the earth, like something that emerged naturally, the way a tree grows,” Willie said. “All of the emotions that come with feeling immense love for somebody, but recognizing the temporality of everything.”
“Time is this illusory experience, and the only thing that is happening is just change…floating change, constant flux,” he added. “Itâs impossible to grab onto something and keep it there. Itâs so scary and sad, but you know, without that, we wouldnât love so hard. The feeling to me of what this whole project was, was just facing the inevitability with a feeling of love and acceptance, with one foot in the secret outlaw hideaway, where everythingâs cool.”
