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Willie Nelson recently mourned the loss of his longtime friend and bandmate Kris Kristofferson. The two formed The Highwaymen in 1986, along with Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash.
Mastering the outlaw country subgenre, the country supergroup recorded three major albums between 1985 and 1995. Jennings passed away in 2002, followed by Cash a year later. Kristofferson's death this year left Nelson as the only surviving member of The Highwaymen.
In an interview with the Associated Press published on November 1, Willie Nelson reflected on Kris Kristofferson's death. Referring to him as a "great songwriter," he said:
“Kris was a great friend of mine. And, you know, we just kind of had a lot of fun together and made a lot of music together — videos, movies. I hated to lose him. That was a sad time.”
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Nelson also expressed his feelings about being the only living member of The Highwaymen. The 91-year-old explained the situation as "just not funny."
Kristofferson's final performance came at Nelson's 90th birthday party in April 2023. The Highwaymen veteran performed with legendary American songwriter and singer Roseanne Cash. In a 2009 interview with Rolling Stone, Nelson praised his friendship with Kristofferson:
“I think we are about as close as friends can be. I think we understand all we need to understand about each other.”
Willie Nelson once revealed what keeps him going even at the age of 91
Willie Nelson released Last Leaf on the Tree on November 1. It is his 76th solo studio album and 153rd album overall. Even at the age of 91, the veteran country singer seems to be going strong.
Nelson has previously shared that his greatest source of motivation comes from his fans. He was slated to perform at the 2024 Outlaw Music Festival in June. Reflecting on the enormity of the festival, Nelson shared his thoughts about performing at the event in February this year (via People).
"This year's Outlaw Music Festival Tour promises to be the biggest and best yet with this lineup of legendary artists. I am thrilled to get back on the road again with my family and friends playing the music we love for the fans we love," Nelson stated.
Unfortunately, he had to cancel his set on the opening day of the music festival because of health complications. After calling off his set at the Ameris Bank Amphitheater in Alpharetta, the veteran country singer explained the reason in a post on X:
"We regret to inform you that Willie Nelson is not feeling well and, per doctor’s orders, has been advised to rest for the next four days. He is expected to make a quick recovery and join the Outlaw Music Festival tour next week."
Before the canceled show in June, Nelson performed at a concert titled Blackbird Presents' Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90 on his birthday, April 29, 2024. In an interview with People magazine, he highlighted the importance of fans:
"I get a lot of fun out of playing for an audience. There's a great energy exchange there. It's what keeps me going."
The show was a blockbuster hit, reportedly attracting over 18,000 fans and lasting for two days, April 29 and April 30.
