Willie Nelson Has the Secret to Staying Around ‘Forever’

Willie Nelson is 74 years old and has absolutely no plans of slowing down. Lucky for us.

The music icon and all-around national treasure somehow found time between touring, his philanthropic endeavors and his golf game to record 'Moment of Forever, ' a collection of songs that mirror his life: There's a little bit of humor, a lot of love and a sound that stands the test of time.

The Boot caught up with the Redheaded Stranger to talk about his new project and his surprisingly simple explanation for his prevalence in modern music. And, of course, we couldn't help but let the conversation drift back to his notoriously wilder days.

I hear you're talking to us in between golf games right now. What's your handicap?

My driver and my putter! [laughs]

And you actually bought a golf course!

I'm across the street from it right now. It's a little nine-hole golf course called Pedernales Country Club. We have a lot of fun over there.

So you're a golf course owner, singer, songwriter, actor, philanthropist and father of ten. Is there anything you've yet to accomplish that's on your to-do list?

I don't like to think too far ahead. I've been lucky enough to get a lot done and have a lot of success. I don't want to be greedy. And when I'm happiest is when I'm out here playing music and staying out of trouble! [laughs] In the early days, we'd be out on the road and go out and play our concert, and then go back to the hotel and party till daylight. And then when it came time to leave, you couldn't find anybody! [laughs] So I decided somewhere along the way that it's better to leave town right after the show. And since we've started doing that, I've noticed that the marriages are actually staying together. [laughs]

You have certainly changed your ways; people may not realize that you're actually somewhat of a health nut these days.

Well, I have started running. What I was trying to do was do at least as much good in the daytime as I was destroying in the nighttime. [laughs] But it got to the point where I was losing ground. I had to start trying to stay alive or I was going to die. So I've had to give up the smoking and drinking. And when I quit that and started running, I got a lot healthier.

What would you say is the biggest misconception about you?

There probably aren't any. [laughs] But if you think of all the people who don't like me, just think of all the millions who've never heard of me!

I can't imagine there are "millions" who haven't heard of you. You're Willie Nelson! You probably get recognized several times a day. Does your fame ever overwhelm you?

Honestly, no. I love it. I thrive on it. I enjoy people. And when I first started out watching Gene Autry and Roy Rogers on the movie screen every Saturday, I wanted to be like them. I wanted to ride my horse, shoot my gun, sing my songs and be like Gene and Roy. And that's what I'm doing, and I couldn't be happier. And I'm making enough money to pay the bills and support my family, so I have no complaints.

Speaking of your family, your youngest sons Micah and Lukas are featured on your new album in the opening track, 'Over You Again.' And they're actually musicians themselves, right?

They have a band called 40 Points and have toured with me over the last couple of years, but they're back in school now. They're just two really talented kids. I'm proud of them.

You also worked with Kenny Chesney on this CD. He acts as both duet partner on 'Worry B Gone' and as co-producer of the album. What did he bring to the table that was different from your past producers?

First of all, he's a good musician and has a good ear in the studio. And his name certainly didn't hurt at all, either! [laughs] He's a big star, and after hanging out with him for a while you can see why. He's got a lot of talent.

In addition to Chesney, are there any other artists these days who you think have a real shot at longevity?

There are a lot of guys who seem to have staying power ... Toby Keith, Brooks & Dunn, Travis Tritt. Those guys are going to be out there working for a long time. They've got talent.

As someone who's certainly achieved it, what do you think is the secret to longtime success in the music industry?

I think you've just gotta keep living! Just look at Johnny Cash or Waylon [Jennings]. They kept going until they died. Ray Price is still doing great, and he's 82 years old. We just celebrated his birthday over in Tyler, Texas. He and I and Merle [Haggard] are all touring again this year. So I think staying busy is important.

You've collaborated with so many different artists, from Waylon and Merle to Julio Iglesias to Dave Matthews. Is there anyone you haven't worked with yet but would like to?

Can you sing? [laughs]

You don't want to hear me sing, at least not sober.

[laughs] Darn, then I'll have to find somebody else.

How about all the different artists who've covered your songs. Is there one that stands out to you?

You've got to go back to 'Crazy,' Patsy Cline. How could you top that one? Also, Ray Price with 'Night Life,' Roy Orbison, 'Pretty Paper'; Billy Walker, 'Funny How Time Slips Away'; Faron Young, 'Hello Walls.' Those performances ... there's just no way to beat 'em.

As one of the most prolific songwriters of our time, is there one song that you wish you'd written?

I just heard a Hank Williams classic, 'I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry.' That's a piece of literature. I don't wish I'd written it, but I am glad somebody did! [laughs]

If you could change any
thing about the country music business, what would you change?

I would like to see more airplay for all artists, no matter what age. I think there's a lot of money being spent toward the young guys, but a lot of the older guys are the ones who blazed the trail for those young guys. Plus, the old guys have kept those record companies in business for all these years. So I think there's a certain amount of respect due. I'm not complaining ... we've made some good records and have sold a lot. I'm talking mainly for the other artists coming along. They'll have a better chance if they stay traditional and don't try to get too far out one way or another. Like Toby Keith, Brooks & Dunn, Ray Price ... they've stayed traditional, and they're gonna be around for forever.

You tend to be pretty vocal about your political beliefs. So, what do you think is the most important issue in the '08 presidential election?

Stop the war. Stop the bleeding. That's the first thing. Then the economy -- we have all kind of problems, but the number-one priority is to stop this war. Once that happens, all the trillions of dollars that we're spending over there can be spent here on our people, our poor people, for health insurance and all the things that evidently we don't have the money to work with because it's all over there fighting wars. And if it's not that war, it's another war. It's just this series of one war after another.

Are you supporting any particular candidate?

I liked Dennis Kucinich, but he dropped out. I like Obama and Hillary, so I'll wait to see which one of those folks come out on top. But they've both changed their positions on the war, I think, in the last several months. Dennis never did have to change his position, because he was always against it. But as for who I'll support, I don't really know yet.

Was it your stance on the war that drove you to start the Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute?

I wanted to connect all people who are thinking about peace on Earth. When I was growing up, that was the theme that every Sunday morning, they yelled at us. [laughs] "Peace on Earth!" And then it looks like that somewhere along the way, people forgot that message. Now it's war on Earth. So I want to connect all the people who think like I do, that there should be and hopefully will be peace on Earth.

If we were to ask you to write Willie's Theme, a rule you live your daily life by, what would it say?

A couple of funny ones come to mind. My ex-wife Martha used to say, "Don't worry about a thing, because there ain't nothin' that's gonna be all right." [laughs] And my father-in-law when I was married to Connie used to say, "Take my advice and do what you want to." I thought that was funny.

I think the lyrics to your new song 'Always Now' are a good rule to live by.

I think you're right. That's an absolute truth.

So we'll leave you with a very important question: What are your plans for your 75th birthday this April?

I'm getting roasted on Comedy Central. So I think a lot of my old buddies will be there to drag me over the coals. I'm looking forward to that!