Watch Willie Nelson and Lukas Nelson Perform “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground” Nearly 40 Years Apart

For nearly seven decades, Willie Nelson produced one of the most mesmerizing careers in country music. While his life included some time in the U.S. Air Force, many know Willie for encompassing all of country music. Producing over 70 studio albums, Nelson won numerous awards and even appeared in several films. But outside of the music industry and the silver screen, Willie also helped create a loving family. And much like Willie, his son, Lukas Nelson, decided to follow in her father’s footsteps. Capturing the spotlight, both Lukas and Willie joined forces more than a few times on the stage. But when it came to the song “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground”, the father/son duo performed the song almost 40 years apart. 

Originally released on the soundtrack for Honeysuckle Rose, “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground” not only gained praise for Willie but it was also covered by legendary singers like Bob Dylan. But thanks to one fan, they decided to take a performance from Willie in 1984 and put it beside Lukas in 2023. Comparing the two performances, fans shared their thoughts, writing, “They sound so much alike but so different.” Another person added, “He sings it exactly like his father. Love it! My favorite Willie song.” 

[RELATED: “A Cover That Rivals the Original”: Watch Willie Nelson and His Son Lukas Put Their Spin on a Pearl Jam Classic]

Lukas Nelson Admits Willie Nelson “Brought The Best Of Texas”

Outside of being influenced by Willie, Lukas once discussed what he learned from his father. “There’s so many directions you can go and it can be so overwhelming. And so I think what I learned from him at an early age was just to recognize if you have something and follow it.”

Besides his love for country music, Willie also brought a deep love for Texas. Lukas explained, “I think there’s something in the water that makes Texans the way they are. It’s funny, there’s just a lot of good people that live in Texas and a lot of amazing music has come out of Texas. A lot of my heroes are Texan. I feel a great kinship with it. And growing up, Dad, brought the best of Texas together with his music. And so a lot of the people that I grew up with are his friends, and his friends are good people. And I just love them all. The people that he brought together were very loving people.”

(Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

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