Introduction:
Willie Nelson, 92, Reveals the Two Songs That Still Make Him Emotional After a Lifetime of Music
Country music legend Willie Nelson is reflecting on the songs that have shaped his extraordinary career — and the ones that still tug at his heart. Now 92 years old, the iconic singer-songwriter sat down with GQ to revisit the emotional core of his catalog, revealing the tracks that continue to move him decades after he first wrote and recorded them.
When asked which songs still make him “misty” when he hears or performs them, Nelson didn’t hesitate.
“‘Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground’ is one. ‘Always on My Mind’ is another,” he shared.
Both songs are deeply woven into Nelson’s legacy, resonating with fans around the world for their vulnerability, honesty, and universal emotional truth. Nelson added that music by artists like Hank Williams and Bob Wills can also bring him to tears, noting how their timeless storytelling has influenced him throughout his life.
“There’s a whole lot of good music out there,” Nelson said. “I still think music is what brings us all together. Politics separates everybody. Music brings us back together.”
The Story Behind “Always On My Mind”
“Always On My Mind,” one of Nelson’s most beloved songs, has a fascinating origin story — one that almost ended before it ever began.
In Nashville Songwriter: The Inside Stories Behind Country Music’s Greatest Hits, journalist Jake Brown spoke with Wayne Carson, one of the writers behind the classic. Carson revealed that the song came to life in stages. He initially wrote the main verses but struggled to craft a bridge. His producer, Chips Moman, insisted the song needed one, and by sheer coincidence, fellow songwriters Johnny Christopher and Mark James happened to be at the studio that day. The three teamed up to finish the now-famous lyric.
Carson said the song’s emotional truth — the regret of not showing enough love while still caring deeply — was “universally” relatable. Everyone has felt that ache, he explained.
But despite their confidence, the song was rejected when they brought it to record producer Fred Foster.
“I remember the last thing Chips said about it was, ‘He’s going to rue the day he ever turned that song down… That song is a big, huge song,’” Carson recalled.
Chips was right. “Always On My Mind” became one of Willie Nelson’s biggest hits, earning him three Grammy Awards and cementing itself as a timeless standard.
Even at 92, Nelson’s bond with the song — and with music itself — remains as powerful as ever.