Willie Nelson, 91, made a surprising statement about his health after warning fans that shows had been canceled over the summer.
The country music icon said death is one of the themes on his new album, prompting him to reflect on his life and health.
He told the Associated press: ‘Well, I’m 91 plus, so you know, I don’t worry about it. I don’t feel bad. I have no pain anywhere.
‘I have no reason to worry about death. But I don’t know anyone who has lived forever. I take pretty good care of myself.”
Nelson, who quit smoking marijuana after decades, added with a laugh, “I feel like I’m in pretty good shape physically. Spiritually? That’s a different story.’
Willie Nelson, 91, revealed he is in ‘pretty good shape’ after addressing fans with show cancellations. He performed at Kamala Harris’ Texas rally last week (photo)
Nelson sang and played guitar in 1969 (photo). He has been a beloved artist for decades
This admission comes after Nelson missed the opening dates of his Outlaw Music Festival Tour in the summer due to his health.
“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,” the Grammy Award winner’s team wrote in a statement.
“He is expected to make a quick recovery and take part in the Outlaw Music Festival tour next week. In the meantime, Lukas Nelson and the Family Band, along with several guests, will perform a special set of Willie’s classics and other songs.”
After the doctors cleared him to perform, he still decided to opt out of a show in Mansfield, Massachusetts.
Nelson had to cancel other shows in recent years due to illness.
Nelson has canceled performances several times over the years, citing health problems as an explanation
In 2018, Nelson had to walk off stage during a show in North Carolina because he “wasn’t feeling well and had a stomach flu.”
The following year he canceled a tour with 53-year-old Alison Krauss, announcing that he had “a breathing problem” that he needed to have treated.
One of his attempts to improve his health was to quit smoking weed, but it later became clear that he still consumes other types of cannabis products.
In 2020, Nelson shared his secrets to longevity, admitting that he “never thought I would live to be this old.”
He has credited cannabis as “a good medicine and I’m happy that it’s being accepted across the country, and I’ll be happy if every state in the union legalizes it because I think it will be healthy for everyone.”
In addition to releasing his 75th solo studio album The Border in May, Nelson was also recently featured on the “Smoke Hour” interludes from Beyoncé’s highly anticipated Cowboy Carter album.
In apparently good health, Nelson performed last week at a rally in Houston, Texas for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
His latest album ‘Last Leaf on the Tree’ was released on Friday. It is a collaboration with his youngest son, Micah.
Although Willie and Micah were already very close, the pair took their relationship to the next level after spending hours in the studio at work.
Nelson, pictured in 1978, said he doesn’t worry about death as he discussed his latest album
Micah produced the project and was instrumental in the song selection process.
The 34-year-old told the Save country music that he took a “sculptor’s approach” to their project, before noting that he and his father worked extremely hard on the album.
He said: ‘It’s an approach that I really love and have used a lot over the years – just throw the clay down and step back, then maybe add a little bit more, and then maybe here shearing, and building the tracks that do that’ way.’
The album is Nelson’s 76th solo album and 153rd album overall, the Associated Press reported.