Early Life and Education of Willie Nelson: A Complete Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Willie Nelson, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Willie Nelson is a celebrated American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, pivotal in the outlaw country movement, which challenged the Nashville sound's constraints in the late 1960s. Albums like 'Shotgun Willie,' 'Red Headed Stranger,' and 'Stardust' cemented his fame in country music. Beyond music, Nelson has appeared in over 30 films, co-authored books, and advocated for biofuels and marijuana legalization.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1929: Nelson's parents moved to Texas

In 1929, Willie Nelson's parents moved from Arkansas to Texas seeking work. His parents relocated from Arkansas in 1929 in pursuit of employment opportunities.

April 29, 1933: Willie Nelson Born

On April 29, 1933, Willie Hugh Nelson was born in Abbott, Texas. He later became an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter, a key figure in the outlaw country subgenre.

1950: Graduation and Air Force Enrollment

In 1950, Willie Nelson graduated from high school and subsequently joined the U.S. Air Force, but was later discharged due to back problems.

1950: Leaving School and Joining the U.S. Air Force

In 1950, after leaving school, Willie Nelson joined the U.S. Air Force, where he served for eight months before being medically discharged due to back issues.

1952: Married Martha Matthews

In 1952, Willie Nelson married Martha Matthews. The couple had three children and their marriage ended in 1962.

January 22, 1953: Rene Butts was born

On January 22, 1953, Rene Butts (born Lynda Renee Barley), who was later revealed to be Willie Nelson's daughter, was born.

1954: Enrolling at Baylor University

From 1954, Willie Nelson enrolled at Baylor University, where he studied agriculture and joined the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

1956: Dropping out of Baylor University

In 1956, Willie Nelson dropped out of Baylor University to pursue a career in music.

1958: Family Move and Song Sales

In 1958, after the birth of his son Billy, Willie Nelson's family moved to Houston, Texas. He sold his songs "Family Bible" and "Night Life" to Paul Buskirk.

1962: Divorced Martha Matthews

In 1962, Willie Nelson divorced his first wife, Martha Matthews. Their marriage was marked by violence.

1963: Marriage to Shirley Collie

In 1963, Willie Nelson married Shirley Collie in Las Vegas. Collie and Nelson got married in Las Vegas.

1971: Divorced Shirley Collie and married Connie Koepke

In 1971, Willie Nelson divorced Shirley Collie after she discovered he had a daughter with Connie Koepke. Nelson then married Koepke the same year.

1972: Move to Austin, Texas

In 1972, Willie Nelson, feeling weary of the corporate Nashville music scene, moved to Austin, Texas, where he was motivated to return to performing.

1974: Arrested for Marijuana Possession in Dallas

In 1974, Willie Nelson was arrested for marijuana possession in Dallas, Texas, marking the first time he was arrested for this offense.

1977: Arrested for Marijuana Possession in the Bahamas

In 1977, Willie Nelson was arrested for marijuana possession in the Bahamas after a customs officer found marijuana in his jeans. He was jailed but released after bail was arranged. He was then banned from the country.

1978: Introduced to Price Waterhouse

In 1978, after firing his manager Neil Reshen, Willie Nelson was introduced to the accounting firm Price Waterhouse, who recommended investments in tax shelters to repay a debt created by Reshen with the IRS.

1980: IRS Disallowed Tax Deductions

In 1980, the IRS disallowed Willie Nelson's deductions, leading to an increase in his debt due to penalties and interest. This occurred during a time when Nelson's income was multiplying.

1981: Lung Collapsed in Hawaii

In 1981, Willie Nelson's lung collapsed while he was swimming in Hawaii. He was hospitalized and his concerts were cancelled. Afterwards, he would temporarily quit smoking cigarettes each time his lungs became congested, but would resume after.

1981: IRS Disallowed Tax Deductions

In 1981, the IRS disallowed Willie Nelson's deductions, leading to an increase in his debt due to penalties and interest. This occurred during a time when Nelson's income was multiplying.

1982: IRS Disallowed Tax Deductions

In 1982, the IRS disallowed Willie Nelson's deductions, leading to an increase in his debt due to penalties and interest. This occurred during a time when Nelson's income was multiplying.

1983: Nelson gifts his braids to Waylon Jennings

In 1983, Willie Nelson cut his braids and gave them to Waylon Jennings as a gift during a party celebrating Jennings' sobriety.

1985: First Farm Aid Concert

In 1985, Willie Nelson helped organize the first Farm Aid concert to support American farmers. He has appeared at every concert since then.

1988: Divorced Connie Koepke

In 1988, Willie Nelson divorced Connie Koepke, with whom he had another daughter, Amy Lee Nelson.

1991: Married Annie D'Angelo and son's suicide

In 1991, Willie Nelson married Annie D'Angelo. Also in 1991, Willie Nelson's son Willie "Billy" Hugh Jr. died by suicide.

1993: Cleared IRS Debts

By 1993, Willie Nelson had cleared his debts with the IRS. He released "The IRS Tapes: Who'll Buy My Memories?" to help pay off his debts, and he sued Price Waterhouse. Many of his assets were auctioned and later returned by friends.

1994: Marijuana Found in Car Near Waco

In 1994, Texas Highway patrolmen found marijuana in Willie Nelson's car near Waco, Texas. His required court appearance prevented him from attending the Grammy Awards that year.

2003: Named Honorary Chairman of Texas Music Project

In 2003, Texas Governor Perry signed a bill funding the Texas Music Project, the state's official music charity, and Willie Nelson was named honorary chairman of the advisory board of the project.

2004: Supported Dennis Kucinich's Campaign

In 2004, Willie Nelson supported Dennis Kucinich's campaign in the Democratic presidential primaries by raising money, appearing at events, and writing the song "Whatever Happened to Peace on Earth?" which criticized the war in Iraq.

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2004: Underwent Carpal Tunnel Surgery

In 2004, Willie Nelson underwent surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome, which he developed from playing the guitar. He canceled his scheduled concerts during recovery and focused on writing songs.

2005: Highway Naming Legislation Dropped

In 2005, a bill to name a section of State Highway 130 after Willie Nelson was dropped after objections from Republican senators, citing Nelson's lack of connection to the highway, his fund raisers for Democrats, his drinking, and his marijuana advocacy.

2006: Advocated for Kinky Friedman in Texas Gubernatorial Election

In 2006, Willie Nelson recorded a radio advertisement supporting Kinky Friedman as an independent candidate for the Texas gubernatorial election. Friedman promised Nelson a position as the head of a new Texas Energy Commission in Austin due to Nelson's support for bio-fuels.

2006: Released 'Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other'

In 2006, Willie Nelson released a version of Ned Sublette's "Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other" through iTunes, achieving instant success and showing support for the LGBT movement.

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2006: Arrested in Louisiana for Marijuana and Mushroom Possession

In 2006, while traveling to Ann W. Richards' funeral, Willie Nelson, along with his manager and sister Bobbie, was arrested in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, and charged with possession of marijuana and hallucinogenic mushrooms. Nelson received six months probation.

April 2007: Nelson discusses his braids in Stuff Magazine

In the April 2007 issue of Stuff Magazine, Willie Nelson discussed braiding his hair when it became too long in the 1970s.

January 2008: Filed Suit Against Texas Democratic Party

In January 2008, Willie Nelson filed a lawsuit against the Texas Democratic Party, claiming a violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments because they refused to allow Dennis Kucinich to appear on the primary ballot after he scratched out part of the loyalty oath.

2008: Advocated for Animal Welfare and Horse Treatment

In 2008, Willie Nelson advocated for better treatment of horses and campaigned for the passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. Additionally, in 2008 Nelson signed on to warn consumers about the cruel conditions for calves raised for dairy products and wrote letters to Land O'Lakes and Challenge Dairy.

2008: Started Smoking Marijuana with Carbon-Free System

In 2008, after suffering from pneumonia multiple times, Willie Nelson quit tobacco and began smoking marijuana with a carbon-free system to avoid the effects of smoke.

May 26, 2010: Nelson cuts his hair

On May 26, 2010, it was reported that Willie Nelson had cut his long hair, seeking a more manageable hairstyle for his Maui home.

November 26, 2010: Arrested for Marijuana Possession in Sierra Blanca

On November 26, 2010, Willie Nelson was arrested in Sierra Blanca, Texas, for possession of six ounces of marijuana found in his tour bus. He was released after paying bail. An agreement to pay a fine to avoid jail time was later rejected by the judge.

April 20, 2012: Willie Nelson statue unveiled in Austin

On April 20, 2012, a life-size statue of Willie Nelson was unveiled in Austin, Texas, coinciding with the 4/20 cannabis culture association. During the ceremony, Nelson performed the song "Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die".

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2012: Canceled Appearance Due to Breathing Problems

In 2012, Willie Nelson canceled a fund-raising appearance in Denver due to breathing problems caused by high altitude and emphysema, leading to hospitalization. He was later confirmed to be in good health and resumed his tour.

2012: Learned about daughter with Mary Haney

In 2012, Willie Nelson learned that he had a daughter, Rene Butts, with his friend Mary Haney. Rene Butts was born in 1953.

2013: Nelson receives honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music

In 2013, Willie Nelson was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music.

2013: Expressed Views on Same-Sex Marriage

In 2013, during an interview with Texas Monthly, Willie Nelson responded to a comparison between the Defense of Marriage Act and same-sex marriage with the civil rights movement, stating, "We'll look back and say it was crazy that we ever even argued about this". He also presented logos with the pink equal sign representing the LGBT movement.

October 2014: Nelson's braids sold at auction

In October 2014, Willie Nelson's braids were sold for $37,000 at an auction of the Waylon Jennings estate.

2014: Received Fifth-Degree Black Belt in GongKwon Yusul

In 2014, after 20 years of practicing GongKwon Yusul, Willie Nelson was presented with a fifth-degree black belt by his Grand Master Sam Um in a ceremony held in Austin, Texas.

2015: Underwent Stem-Cell Therapy

In 2015, Willie Nelson underwent stem-cell therapy to improve the state of his lungs after repeated instances of pneumonia and emphysema.

2016: Shared a picture with Rene Butts

In 2016, Rene Butts shared a picture of herself and Willie Nelson on Father's Day.

2017: Rene Butts died

In 2017, Willie Nelson's daughter, Rene Butts, died.

June 2018: Deplored Trump Administration Family Separation Policy

In June 2018, Willie Nelson expressed his disapproval of the Trump administration's family separation policy. During his Fourth of July Picnic, he also performed with Beto O'Rourke, who was a Democratic candidate for the Senate election in Texas.

September 29, 2018: Offered Free Concert and Released 'Vote 'Em Out'

On September 29, 2018, Willie Nelson offered a free concert in Austin to support Beto O'Rourke's Senate run. He concluded the concert with "Vote 'Em Out", a new track that was subsequently released as a single.

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January 2021: Received Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine

In January 2021, Willie Nelson and his sister received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

March 2021: Recorded 'I'll Be Seeing You' for COVID-19 Vaccination PSA

In March 2021, Willie Nelson recorded a version of the standard "I'll Be Seeing You" that was used on a public service announcement by the Ad Council to encourage COVID-19 vaccination in the United States.

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May 2022: Contracted COVID-19 and Postponed Shows

In May 2022, Willie Nelson postponed several shows after he contracted COVID-19, experiencing severe symptoms. He received treatment including Paxlovid, monoclonal antibodies, and steroids.

September 2022: Resumed Tour

In September 2022, Willie Nelson resumed his tour after recovering from COVID-19.

June 2024: Canceled Performances due to Health Complications

During June 2024, Willie Nelson had to cancel his performances at the Outlaw Music Festival due to health complications and was ordered to rest for four days by a doctor.