Archive for the ‘Awards and Honors’ Category
Grammy Nominations for the Nelsons
Wednesday, December 17th, 2025George Strait Honored With CMA’s Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award
Sunday, March 30th, 2025March 21, 1981, “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground” #1 on Billboard Country Chart
Thursday, March 21st, 2024On March 21, 1981, Willie Nelson’s song, ‘Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground” is #1 on the Billboard Country Chart. It was a single from the 1980 movie, Honeysuckle Rose, and his seventh #1 on the country chart, as a solo artist. The song spent 14 weeks on country chart.
Willie Nelson’s First Grammy (February 28, 1976)
Wednesday, February 28th, 2024
When Willie Nelson recorded his concept album Red Headed Stranger in Garland, Texas, in 1975, he insisted on simplicity for the tracks. But according to the books Willie, by Michael Bane, that simplicity proved a bit too much for the studio musicians and his record label.
As Willie recorded the song, “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” he stopped the session, played through the tune with just guitar and vocal and asked the band to play only what was necessary. Several of the musicians, realizing that they basically had nothing to do, voluntarily got up and left the session.
Willie remembers that his record label was also not exactly receptive to the bare-bones product. “They expected more Shotgun Willie, something more tempo,” he says in the book. But the label released the album along with the sing, “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” which surprisingly started climbing the charts. It became Willie’s first No. 1 hit in October of 1975.
“Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” was also responsible for another Willie milestone. On Feb. 28, 1976, Willie picked up his first Grammy award, winning the honor for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male.
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Willie Nelson on Billboard Charts this week
Tuesday, February 20th, 2024
photo: Bill Wagner
www.Forbes.com
by: Hugh Mcintyre
At 90 Years Old, Willie Nelson Scores One Of The Biggest Hits Of His Career
Willie Nelson, 90, has a long and storied career behind him. Of course, the legendary singer-songwriter isn’t done working, but his commercial heyday may be behind him. However, when it comes to the music industry, anything can happen, and this week has turned out to be surprisingly special for the country star thanks to a years-old collaboration.
This week, Nelson lands the second-biggest hit of his career on a pair of Billboard charts. “Beer for My Horses” debuts on two lists published by the company following the death of Toby Keith, who duetted with Nelson on the tune. Fans of the late country star were quick to buy and stream many of his favorites, and they turned this track–in addition to many others from the late star–into huge wins again.
“Beer for My Horses” debuts at No. 18 on the Digital Song Sales chart. The weekly ranking lists the bestselling tunes of any genre in The tally is flush with Keith’s songs, including this beloved collaboration. In the past tracking period, the pair-up sold just under 6,000 copies, according to information shared by Luminate.
For Nelson, “Beer for My Horses” now marks the second-loftiest placement of his career on the Digital Song Sales chart. Only “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” has lifted higher, as it once rose to No. 12. Nelson has only sent a trio of tracks to the tally throughout his career.
Over on the Country Digital Song Sales chart, “Beer for My Horses” performs even better. On that list, the collaboration opens at No. 7, reaching the tally for the first time. It is now Nelson’s second top 10 smash ever. It comes in behind, understandably, the aforementioned “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” a duet with Paula Nelson. That single once appeared at No. 3.
Willie Nelson Induction into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Acceptance Speech
Tuesday, November 7th, 2023Dave Matthews inducts Willie Nelson into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2023
Tuesday, November 7th, 2023Willie Nelson, 2023 Inductee, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, will perform (Nov. 3, 2023)
Thursday, September 28th, 2023
Willie Nelson will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – Music’s Highest Honor, and will perform. You can watch on Disney+ on November 3rd at 8p ET.
Willie Nelson induction into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (November 3, 2023)
Monday, September 11th, 2023
THe Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction will be held on November 3, 2023, at the in Brooklyn, NY. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.
Long overdue, Willie Nelson was elected into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, class of 2023. Just after his 90th birthday party celebration weekend, he got a late present, and was one of seven voted into the Hall. The induction ceremony will be held in November, in Brooklyn, New York, not the Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
Six others were selected by the Hall of Fame committee to be in the HOF: Chaka Khan, instrumentalist-producer Al Kooper and lyricist Bernie Taupin, all in the “musical excellence” category; pioneering rock guitarist Link Wray and hip-hop originator DJ Kool Herc in the “musical influence” division; and “Soul Train” TV host Don Cornelius as the recipient of the annual Ahmet Ertegun Award.
Willie Nelson receives fifth level black belt, in Austin (May 28, 2014)
Sunday, May 28th, 2023
Willie Nelson Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee 2023
Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023Long overdue, Willie Nelson was elected into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, class of 2023. Just after his 90th birthday party celebration weekend, he got a late present, and was one of seven voted into the Hall. The induction ceremony will be held in November, in Brooklyn, New York, not the Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
Six others were selected by the Hall of Fame committee to be in the HOF: Chaka Khan, instrumentalist-producer Al Kooper and lyricist Bernie Taupin, all in the “musical excellence” category; pioneering rock guitarist Link Wray and hip-hop originator DJ Kool Herc in the “musical influence” division; and “Soul Train” TV host Don Cornelius as the recipient of the annual Ahmet Ertegun Award.
Willie Nelson Endowment for Uplifting Rural Communities
Monday, March 27th, 2023
www.lbj.utexas.edu
The Willie Nelson Endowment for Uplifting Rural Communities will fund research and student fellowships focused on sustainable agriculture, eliminating hunger, resilient energy, sustainable water, and natural disaster recovery to benefit rural and farm communities. Named in honor of Willie Nelson, the fund celebrates his legacy and numerous contributions over his lifetime, including Willie’s longtime leadership of Farm Aid, which has raised over $70 million to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in the United States.
The endowment leverages The University of Texas’s unmatched potential to improve food policy and sustainable water in rural areas, and enables a continuation of Willie’s ardent support of American communities recovering from and adapting to natural disasters. Finally, this generous gift recognizes Willie’s entrepreneurship and his commitment to energy development and creating a healthy environment for everyone.
Photo by Pamela Springsteen
Willie Nelson
President Johnson and Nelson share similar backgrounds as rural Texans, aware of the struggles of those who work in the agricultural industry. As President Johnson said in a 1965 Special Message to Congress on Agriculture, “The bounty of the earth is the foundation of our economy. Programs in every aspect of our nation’s life depend on the abundant harvests of our farms.”
Nelson has long supported our nation’s farmers through Farm Aid, an event he co-founded in 1985. He has also helped raise millions around disaster relief, for families of the victims of the 9/11 attacks and for veterans, as well as working toward environmental and animal advocacy, and voting rights.
Nelson is a legend in the music world. With a seven-decade career, Willie Nelson has earned every conceivable award as a musician and amassed reputable credentials as an author, actor, and activist. He continues to thrive as a relevant and progressive musical and cultural force.
In recent years, he has delivered more than a dozen new albums, released a Top 10 New York Times’ bestsellers book, again headlined Farm Aid, been honored by the Library of Congress with their Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, received his 5th degree black belt in Gong Kwon Yu Sul, headlined the annual Luck Reunion food and music festival during SXSW, launched his cannabis companies Willie’s Reserve and Willie’s Remedy, and graced the covers of Rolling Stone and AARP The Magazine.
Throughout 2023, Willie celebrates his 90th birthday with multiple projects and events including a two-night star-studded concert, Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90, in April at the famed Hollywood Bowl.
Information on Tickets and Tables, opportunies to sponsor endowments here.
Endowment named for Willie Nelson at U of Texas
Monday, March 27th, 2023Willie Nelson honored with U of Texas Endowment
Thursday, March 23rd, 2023
Willie Nelson honored with Texas educational endowment.
The Wichita Eagle – March 22nd 2023.
Weeks after winning more Grammys, Willie Nelson is getting a new kind of honor: a university endowment in Texas. The 89-year-old country music icon, who in the 1980s helped launch the Farm Aid benefit concerts, is the namesake of the new Willie Nelson Endowment for Uplifting Rural Communities at the University of Texas’ LBJ School of Public Affairs, the school announced Wednesday.
The endowment will fund research and student fellowships benefiting rural and farm communities. The “Always on My Mind” singer has raised more than $70 million for family farm owners through Farm Aid, according to the school, which also plans to honor the Texas native at a May gala.
“Willie Nelson is a national treasure who gained fame through his sheer musical talent and won hearts as someone who truly cares about the lives of his fellow Americans,” Larry Temple, Chairman of the LBJ Foundation Board of Trustees, said in a statement. At the Grammys last month, Nelson’s won best country album for “A Beautiful Time” and best country solo performance for “Live Forever.”
He has won a dozen Grammys over the course of his career. He will receive the LBJ Foundation’s Liberty and Justice for All award, joining a list of recipients that include former U.S. presidents, members of Congress and the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Willie Nelson’s First Grammy (February 28, 1976)
Tuesday, February 28th, 2023When Willie Nelson recorded his concept album Red Headed Stranger in Garland, Texas, in 1975, he insisted on simplicity for the tracks. But according to the books Willie, by Michael Bane, that simplicity proved a bit too much for the studio musicians and his record label.
As Willie recorded the song, “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” he stopped the session, played through the tune with just guitar and vocal and asked the band to play only what was necessary. Several of the musicians, realizing that they basically had nothing to do, voluntarily got up and left the session.
Willie remembers that his record label was also not exactly receptive to the bare-bones product. “They expected more Shotgun Willie, something more tempo,” he says in the book. But the label released the album along with the sing, “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” which surprisingly started climbing the charts. It became Willie’s first No. 1 hit in October of 1975.
“Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” was also responsible for another Willie milestone. On Feb. 28, 1976, Willie picked up his first Grammy award, winning the honor for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male.