It’s Willie Nelson’s 90th Birthday Bash, and You’re Invited

You’re a nominee for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year. How do you feel about the award and rock in general?

I appreciate it very much. I love rock music. I’ve been listening to it ever since it came out, I guess. Leon Russell was one of my favorite people and a great rock musician.

You’re also receiving the LBJ Liberty and Justice for All Award. You’ve amassed a warehouse of honors over your career. Do some matter more than others?

I appreciate them all, especially anything that has to do with music. The other things too. We’ve been doing Farm Aid for a long time, and people realize how that has helped a lot of farmers around the country. I worked farms in my early life, so I know how rough it is to make a living that way.

Aging takes a toll on vocal cords. How do you keep your voice in shape?

I think singing is good for my voice. I don’t do anything to harm it much anymore. If you don’t use it, you lose it.

Willie Nelson (left) is presented with his 5th Degree Black Belt in the art of Gong Kwon Yu Sul by Grand Master Sam Um at his studio Master Martial Arts on April 28, 2014 in Austin, Texas.

Rick Kern/WireImage

You have a lot of self-defense training, including a 5th degree black belt in GongKwon Yusul. What attracted you to martial arts?

I grew up in Abbott, Texas, where we didn’t have much except comic books. We had Charles Atlas and Bruce Lee, judo and jujitsu. Excuse my language, but in Abbott, we had a saying that all we do down there is fight, [expletive] and throw rocks. I grew up fighting one thing or another. I’d go out on Sundays and fight bumblebees and come home with my eyes swollen shut and tell everyone how much fun I had.

Did you ever rely on martial arts skills to defend yourself?

Mainly it gives you enough confidence where you don’t have to jump out there and get into trouble. If they bring it to you, you feel confident you can handle it. It’s not anything I worry about, because I’m not really afraid of it. I don’t really think I’m afraid of anything.

You’re essentially the patriarch of potheads, and now you have two cannabis brands, Willie’s Reserve (THC products) and Willie’s Remedy (hemp-based wellness products). Are you happy with the pace of legalization?

I think it’s great. I believe there’s a positive use for it. Physicians now tell you the pros and cons of smoking anything. Any kind of smoke I don’t think is good for your lungs. You have to just be careful.

Do you still smoke, and how has pot improved your life?

I don’t smoke as much as I used to. Every now and then, I’ll take a hit. I’ll still do a couple edibles. It has a positive effect with me. I’m one of those redheaded kids with a high temper. I feel like it calms me down a little bit.

How is Trigger (the battered Martin N-20 acoustic guitar you've played since 1969), and have you thought about leaving it to a museum, or would you rather be buried with it?

Trigger has a life and a personality all his own. Whenever I die, I’ll let somebody else decide what Trigger does. He should be somewhere where he’s appreciated.

You played more guitar than usual on the new album.

Yeah, I love to play. It’s good for me. But I just did a bluegrass album with a lot of great bluegrass musicians, and I didn’t play Trigger at all. It’s the first album ever that I didn’t play Trigger since I’ve had him.

You’ve written hundreds of songs, including classics like “Crazy,” “Night Life,” “Hello Walls” and “On the Road Again.” Is it getting harder to come up with ideas?

Now and then, I’ll come up with another song. When I have enough, I’ll put an album out. I don’t try to push it. I think I’ve been kind of lucky through the years. I just wait and let it happen. I might go a while without writing. I used to worry about it. Roger Miller told me, “Every now and then, the well goes dry. You have to live a while to refill the well.”

Have you considered retiring from the road?

Jokingly, I retire after every tour. But I’m always ready to go back again. I like the bus. I have everything I need on the bus. I never have to go into a hotel room anywhere. It’s not that bad.

After three divorces, you married a fourth time in 1991. How do you explain the success and longevity of your marriage to Annie (D’Angelo)?

We agree on a lot of things. She has been a great friend over the years. She’s a great mother. She’s just a very sharp individual, and I just feel very lucky to have her.

Describe a good day off.

I’m right outside of Austin, on top of a hill. I got a few horses, great scenery. I have an old truck I like to drive around. There are other great places in the world, but Texas is my place.