NELSON AT HOME IN TEXAS, CIRCA 2003. PHOTO: LIAISON/GETTY IMAGES.

NELSON IN 1979. PHOTO: MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIVES/GETTY IMAGES.

NELSON PERFORMING CIRCA 1980. PHOTO: EBET ROBERTS/REDFERNS.

WITH WAYLON JENNINGS, 1978. PHOTO: MICHAEL PUTLAND/GETTY IMAGES.

WILLIE NELSON IN NEVADA, 1978. PHOTO: SHELLY KATZ/THE LIFE IMAGES COLLECTION/GETTY.

NELSON HOSTING THE 17th-ANNUAL COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION AWARDS, 1983. PHOTO: © CBS/EVERETT COLLECTION. 

NELSON AT HIS 4th OF JULY PICNIC IN COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS, 1974. PHOTO: © BETTMANN/ CORBIS.