Willie Nelson and his many friends and collaborators look back on his legendary career in a new trailer for the upcoming documentary series Willie Nelson & Family. The four-parter will debut on Paramount+ on December 21st.
Melding together new footage and media from Willie’s extensive archives, Willie Nelson & Family tells the story of how a kid from Abbott, TX grew up to become one of the most enduring voices in American music. As the title suggests, Nelson’s family is there with him through it all, including his sister Bobbie who died in 2022.
Along with Willie and his family, generations of artists line up to sing their praises of the Red Headed Stranger. The trailer alone features Dolly Parton, Kenny Chesney, Don Was, Bobby Bare, Bill Anderson, Shelby Lynne, and more. The series itself will host additional appearances from Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, Sheryl Crow, Rosanne Cash, and others, along with new and archival footage of Willie.
“Willie wrote his truth, but in an unbelievable way, he wrote mine,” Chesney said in the trailer, with Was adding, “Willie Nelson’s just a great artist. You’re either telling the truth or you’re not.”
The series was directed by Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman, who traveled “On The Road” with Willie across the country. Willie Nelson & Family was produced by Yellowstone‘s Taylor Sheridan and was developed by Nelson’s longtime manager Mark Rothbaum and frequent collaborator Keith Wortman of Blackburn Presents, which produces Willie’s annual traveling Outlaw Festival.
“Willie’s music formed the soundtrack of my youth,” Sheridan told The Hollywood Reporter. “His songwriting helped shape me as a storyteller…. Willie has opened his life to us — warts and all — to serve as a beacon to overcoming failure, realizing dreams, and keeping your compass once the dream is achieved.”
Willie Nelson & Family | Official Trailer
The trailer comes ahead of the release of another Willie Nelson film, Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90 Live at the Hollywood Bowl. Out on Friday, the concert DVD and recording documents Willie’s star-studded 90th birthday party earlier this year, featuring appearances and performances by Keith Richards, Bob Weir, Margo Price, Billy Strings, Chris Stapleton, Dave Matthews, Sturgill Simpson, Snoop Dogg, Tyler Childers, and many more.
Even at 90, Shotgun Willie is showing no signs of slowing down and recently announced a new run of 2024 tour dates. His most recent album, Bluegrass, dropped back in September and is up for Best Bluegrass Album a the 2024 Grammy Awards.