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Country Throwback: Willie Nelson Chokes Back Tears Watching Friends Perform ‘Seven Spanish Angels’ Tribute

A special performance of “Seven Spanish Angels” brought tears to the eyes of country music legend Willie Nelson back in 2015.

The performance happened as Nelson received the Gershwin Prize on Nov. 18, 2015, in Washington, D.C. The award is presented by the Library of Congress.

“Seven Spanish Angels” was originally recorded by Nelson and Ray Charles for Nelson’s “Half Nelson” album back in 1984. In addition, it was the first song released off of the record and sent to radio stations.

After that, the song hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart on March 23, 1985.

Alison Krauss, Jamey Johnson Honor Willie Nelson

Alison Krauss and Jamey Johnson, two close friends of Willie Nelson, took the stage and performed a moving rendition of this song.

Both poured a lot of emotion and energy into singing it before Nelson and many others in attendance. As Krauss and Johnson are performing, Nelson can be shown with tears coming to his eyes.

Take a look at this performance and see if it moves you as well.

Nelson Spends Time Creating Awareness Of Social Issues

Besides his award-winning music career, Willie Nelson has spent a lot of time also raising awareness of social issues.

He is a part of a movement toward the legalization of marijuana. Obviously, since the ’60s, he has been advocating for it and has his own brand of cannabis called “Willie’s Reserve.”

Similarly, Nelson protested the Persian Gulf and Iraq wars. Additionally, those protests inspired the songs “Jimmy’s Road” and “Whatever Happened to Peace on Earth?” Nelson pointedly asks in the second song’s lyrics, “How much oil is one human life worth?”

Nelson created the first LGBTQ-themed song released by a major country artist. He recorded “Cowboys Are Frequently Fond of Each Other,” where he sings, for instance, “Inside every man there’s feminine.”

On Dec. 22, 1998, Nelson was among a host of people receiving the Kennedy Center Honors. Those in attendance at the event were President Bill Clinton and his wife, first lady Hilary Clinton.

Meanwhile, others receiving honors were composer Andre Previn, comedian Bill Cosby, actress Shirley Temple Black, and the composer/lyricist team of John Kander and Fred Ebb.

Nelson Releasing Second Album Of Frank Sinatra Songs

Nelson will be releasing yet another Frank Sinatra tribute album titled “That’s Just Life.” Similarly, it’s the second record of Sinatra covers that he’s done with the first one being “My Way” in 2018.

“That’s Just Life” is due out on February 26, 2021. It’s to be released by Legacy Recordings, according to Pitchfork. Moreover, he recorded it at Capitol Studios in Hollywood and Pedernales Studios in Austin, Texas.

In conclusion, Nelson’s first Sinatra tribute album earned him a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Solo Album. However, this second album is full of songs from the 1950s and 1960s, per Spin.

To keep up with the latest news on Willie Nelson, click here on Outsider.

H/T: Country Rebel