Willie Nelson has announced a new album, his 77th solo studio album and 154th album overall. Oh What A Beautiful World is due out on April 25 via Legacy Recordings, just ahead of his 92nd birthday. It features 12 new interpretations of classic Rodney Crowell compositions, with a studio band made up of Bobby Terry (acoustic guitar, steel guitar, electric guitar), James Mitchell (electric guitar), Jim “Moose” Brown (B-3 organ, piano, Wurlitzer), Mickey Raphael (harmonica), Fred Eltringham (drums, percussion) and Glenn Worf (bass, upright bass). Wyatt Beard, Buddy Cannon, and Melonie Cannon contribute backing vocals, and Buddy also produced it. Crowell himself features on the lead single and title track, which you can hear below.
The 2025 edition of Wilson’s traveling Outlaw Music Festival begins in May and runs through September, with Bob Dylan, Billy Strings, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Sheryl Crow, Turnpike Troubadours, The Avett Brothers, Wilco, The Red Clay Strays, Lake Street Dive, Waxahatchee, Charles Wesley Godwin, Lucinda Williams, Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers, Trampled by Turtles, The Mavericks, Sierra Hull, Willow Avalon, Waylon Payne, Madeline Edwards, Lily Medla, Myron Elks, Tami Neilson, and more each joining on select days. It includes NYC-area shows at Wantagh, NY’s Jones Beach on August 1 (with Wille, Dylan, Wilco, Lucinda Williams, and Waylon Payne); Camden, NJ’s Freedom Mortgage Pavilion on September 12 (with Willie, Dylan, Sheryl Crow, Waxahatchee, and Madeline Edwards); and Holmdel, NJ’s PNC Bank Arts Center on September 13 (with Willie, Dylan, Sheryl Crow, and Waxahatchee).
Ahead of the tour, Willie has his 10 years of Potluck benefit for The Luck Family Foundation in support of Farm Aid and Texas Food and Wine Alliance, and his Luck Reunion, both at his Luck Ranch in Spicewood, TX. This year’s Luck Reunion lineup includes Charley Crockett, Steve Earle, Taj Mahal, Shane Smith and the Saints, Lukas Nelson, Jesse Welles, Lily Meola, Julien Backer and Torres, and more. Willie will also be in Austin this summer for his annual 4th of July Picnic.
WILLIE NELSON – OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WORLD TRACKLIST
1. What Kind Of Love (written by Rodney Crowell, Will Jennings & Roy Orbison)
2. Banks Of The Old Bandera (written by Rodney Crowell)
3. The Fly Boy & The Kid (written by Rodney Crowell)
4. Forty Miles From Nowhere (written by Rodney Crowell)
5. I Wouldn’t Be Me Without You (written by Rodney Crowell)
6. Making Memories Of Us (written by Rodney Crowell)
7. Oh What A Beautiful World with Rodney Crowell (written by Rodney Crowell)
8. Ope Season On My Heart (written by Rodney Crowell & James Slater)
9. Shame On The Moon (written by Rodney Crowell)
10. She’s Back In Town (written by Rodney Crowell)
11. Still Learning To Fly (written by Rodney Crowell)
12. Stuff That Works (written by Rodney Crowell & Guy Clark)