Even though fans know Willie Nelson for his iconic sound as well as his propensity for a marijuana smoke break, the country legend makes his health a priority.
In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, the red-headed stranger attributes his long life to staying active.
“If you want to live a long time, you have to take care of yourself,” the soon-to-be 88-year-old said. “You have to pay for the day, every day. As you’ve always heard, if you don’t use it, you lose it. You need to move. So every day, I’ll jog or walk, do some sit ups—just a little something to pay for the day!”
According to Nelson, when he gave up cigarettes and alcohol for marijuana in 1971, it profoundly affected his health for the better.
During the interview, Nelson said that he “dumped out a pack of cigarettes, filled his empty Chesterfield pack with 20 freshly rolled joints and never looked back.”
However, in 2019, Nelson had to change his smoking habits after his prolonged periods of smoking made it hard for Nelson to breathe.
But that didn’t stop Nelson from enjoying his plant of choice. Nelson simply changed the way he used marijuana. According to his son Lukas, Nelson began getting creative when it came to his habit.
In a tweet, his son wrote, “between vaping, edibles, gummies, drops” and other ways to ingest cannabis, “I think it’s safe to say Willie will never stop enjoying Mary Jane!”
Willie Nelson on Pandemic Restrictions: ‘I Feel Like I’m in Jail’
Even though Nelson’s fans are thrilled he’s taking steps to make sure he’s around for as long as possible, Nelson says that the pandemic is taking a toll on him. While some musicians have enjoyed the chance to be at home, Nelson can’t wait to get back on the road.
“This is the worst time of my life,” he said. “I have never been this frustrated. I try to think positive, but I feel like I’m in jail—I can’t go here, I can’t go there—and that really pisses me off.”
Even though fans may have to wait for Nelson to perform live in concert, Nelson has made it up to them during the pandemic. Since the start of COVID-19, he has released two new records for fans to enjoy.
In July of 2020, the singer released “First Rose of Spring” and earned his 53rd Top 10 album. In February, he released “That’s Life,” which acts as a tribute to Frank Sinatra.