Willie Nelson’s poker table is a highly coveted place to be, but it’s certainly not for the faint of heart. The country music legend has developed quite a reputation for his recreational activities, both in terms of the copious amount of marijuana that gets passed around the table and the high-roller bets that leave the losers forking up tens of thousands of dollars to their 420-friendly, braid-clad host.
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You know you’ve reached next-level status when people will write songs about how I’ll never smoke weed with Willie again.
Toby Keith Wrote a Song About His Experience With Willie Nelson
Some things in life are inevitable. Death, taxes, and the fact that if you accept an invitation to hang out with Willie Nelson, you will be sitting in a cloud of marijuana smoke, whether or not you choose to partake yourself. Of course, the temptation to join in can be high when you’re in the presence of a monumental legend like Nelson. Such was the case for Toby Keith, who, although he has written entire songs about his love of a cold beer, was never much for grass. But as Keith said during a later interview, “If I’m gonna smoke weed, it’s gonna be with him. When in Rome. I absolutely want to be able to tell my people that I smoked a joint with Willie Nelson.”
Keith described Nelson’s marijuana as “really chronic,” “toxic,” and “industrial strength.” (Is anyone really surprised?) The “Should Have Been a Cowboy” singer admitted to taking a few “fake” puffs before finally committing to inhaling. “An hour later, I was just zombied,” Keith told Dan Rather. Shortly thereafter, Keith noticed Nelson’s tour bus was starting to move. He asked his host if he knew that the bus was moving, to which Nelson replied, “You going with us?”
The country singer immortalized his experience with the Red-Headed Stranger in his 2003 song, “Weed With Willie.” In the refrain, Keith sings, I’ll never smoke weed with Willie again. My party’s all over before it begins. You can pour me some old Whiskey River my friend, but I’ll never smoke weed with Willie again.
The Country Star’s Poker Table Is Not For The Faint Of Heart
Willie Nelson also has quite a reputation as a poker game host. Whether on his tour bus or in a small log cabin called Django’s on Maui, Nelson will play poker until the wee hours of the morning, placing hefty bets, losing some, and winning others. Notable guests at Willie Nelson’s poker table include Woody Harrelson, Owen Wilson, Jamey Johnson, and Merle Haggard. Harrelson became such a long-time regular of Nelson’s games that one of the wings in the country legend’s home is jokingly nicknamed “Woody’s Wing.” According to Nelson, if the actor had lost a lot of money (which he often did), he would ask to stay over at Nelson’s so they could start the game over the next morning.
Some stories about Nelson’s infamous poker games are more than a little fabricated. During an interview with Dan Rather, Nelson clarified that the story of Nelson forcing Harrelson to stay on his tour bus until he coughed up the $40,000 he lost during a game was “not altogether true. It’s a good story, though,” Nelson admitted with a smile.
Photo by Alex Maguire/Shutterstock
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