Surrounded by his family band and Chris Stapleton sitting on his side, Willie Nelson took a moment to give an acceptance speech during his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction on Friday (November 3). Nelson then went into a performance of three of his biggest hits, featuring Stapleton, fellow 2023 inductee Sheryl Crow, and Dave Matthews.
Videos by American Songwriter
“Thank all y’all for this great honor,” said Nelson, who just turned 90 in April, during his speech. “I appreciate the acknowledgment of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, included with so many legends, and some I’m lucky enough to call a friend. It’s been a long ride from my first DJ job to being here with y’all.”
He added, “And as a DJ, I was playing those first songs by Elvis [Presley]. I remember writers calling that rockabilly rather than rock and roll, and I never did pay much attention to categories, and I’m not sure the fans did either.”
Nelson went on to call out friends Jerry Lee Lewis and Ray Charles, who were two of the first inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
“When Ray and I got together, we never asked each other what to do—whether to do a soul song or a rock song, or a country song,” said Nelson. “We just sang the songs we love—and some of my buddies Leon Russell and Booker T. Jones, two more Hall of Famers. Everyone thought we [he and Jones] were crazy—and we were—to do the ‘Stardust’ album of standards, but it turned out pretty good, and folks seem to like it.”
Next, Nelson mentioned his country music supergroup The Highwaymen, which featured him along with Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson. The group formed in 1985 and remained together for a decade and released three albums. Nelson also plugged two Highwaymen who were still not inducted into the Rock Hall.
[RELATED: 6 Songs Willie Nelson Wrote That Were Made Famous by Other Artists]
“Folks also like the music I made with my Highwaymen, my brothers,” said Nelson. “That was fun with [Johnny] Cash and Waylon and Kris Kristofferson. And now that Johnny [Cash} and I’ve been inducted I want to give a plug for Waylon … and Kris, who sang so many hits, to be inducted too.”
Nelson gave more list of thank yous before performing. “I want to thank my family band for hanging out with me for this ride, my longtime members, Mark Rothbaum for sticking with me through thick and thin, Brian Greenbaum and CAA, and my wife Annie for keeping me out here doing what I was put here to do. Thank you. Thanks again for including me tonight. And thanks for appreciating my music.”
Prior to Nelson’s performance, a nervous Dave Matthews gave Nelson’s induction speech and presented him with his award before his performance. In his speech, Matthews joked about how much Nelson loved smoking weed—and how he once out-smoked Snoop Dogg. He also recounted what Nelson once said to a reporter when asked if he was retiring. “Well, I play golf and I play music,” said Nelson. “Which do you want me to give up?”
Matthews also talked about Nelson’s humanitarianism, particularly in his founding of Farm Aid with John Mellencamp and Neil Young in 1985. “Willie is an example of how the world could be if we could just straighten up and fly right,” added Matthews.
Following Matthews’ induction speech and a short video on Nelson’s career, the 90-year-old country legend appeared on stage, sat in a chair, and backed by his band along with Stapleton in another chair beside him. Following Nelson’s speech, he went straight into his 1973 Shotgun Willie song “Whiskey River” sharing verses with Stapleton. Crow, who was the first artist to be inducted during the evening, sat on Nelson’s other side for a tender duet of his 1961 hit “Crazy” made famous by Patsy Cline.
His induction isn’t the end of the road for Nelson, who already has tour dates scheduled in 2024, including the Stagecoach festival in Indio, California. He’ll also join Stapleton on his All-American Road Show Tour.
Closing out the performance, Matthews joined in for a sing-along of Nelson’s 1980 hit “On the Road Again.”
At the end of his performance, Nelson received a standing ovation from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame audience. Under the applause, he could be heard saying “It’s a good day.”
Photos: Jennifer Pottheiser / Courtesy of Disney
