Willie Nelson’s Wife, Annie, Says He Is ‘Benjamin Buttoning’ Her: “He Just Keeps Going & Going”

He might outlive us all.

Willie Nelson released his most recent record Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle in November, marking Willie’s 78th career solo studio album and the 155th of his career in total. In addition, he was out on an extensive tour for the 2025 edition of his Outlaw Music Festival show, and he also once again hosted his Farm Aid benefit concert in September.

It’s really incredible, to put it mildly, that he continues to work as much, and as hard, as he does, as he approaches his 93rd birthday in April.

And in an interview with New York Magazine, several of Willie’s family members opened up about just how impressive his work ethic is, including his wife, Annie, who he married in 1991.

Of her legendary husband, she says:

“He just keeps going and going. He’s Benjamin Buttoning me.”

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button is short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about someone who gets younger with time, not older, and I’d have to say, that’s a pretty accurate assessment. I always say that Willie Nelson and Keith Richards might be the last two people standing on this Earth when it’s all said and done, and I mean that as the ultimate compliment… they’re timeless and only get better with age.

Willie spent eight months on the road this year, and his daughter, Amy, says she thinks that Willie continuing to work and perform his part of his health regimen in many ways:

“I think it’s literally keeping him alive.”

Willie has had his share of health challenges, suffering a very serious case of COVID in May of 2022, though he came out healthy on the other side of it and continues to work as if he’s just getting started… it’s clear how deeply Willie loves what he does, because you’d have to in order to become an icon like him and still want to continue to work as much as those who are just getting started.

And he shows no signs on slowing down anytime soon…

This year at the Grammy Awards, Willie and his eldest son with Annie, Lukas Nelson, are both nominated in the brand country category called Best Traditional Country Album. The previously titled Best Country Album category has been changed to Best Contemporary Country Album, so there will be two opportunities for some of your favorite country artists to win one of music’s most prestigious awards.

Of course, as you might imagine, the Best Traditional Country Album category is stacked.

We have Charley Crockett’s Dollar A Day, Margo Price’s Hard Headed Woman, Zach Top’s Ain’t In It For My Health, Luka’s American Romance and Willie’s, Oh What A Beautiful World all up for the award. Yes, the category is 40% Nelson, and it’s only the second time in history that’s happened at the Grammys, in terms of a father and son both being nominated in the same category for different albums. It’s the first time for a country father/son duo.

The only other time it happened in another genre was in 1998, when Julio Iglesias and his son Enrique Iglesias were both nominated for Best Latin Pop Album, though neither one of them won it, as the award went to Luis Miguel. Funny enough, Julio and Willie have worked together in the past, on their hit song “To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before.”

But in typical Nelson fashion, they’re all cheering each other on, and in a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, Lukas says he views it as being nominated “alongside” his dad, rather than being up “against” him:

“‘Against’ is a strong word. Alongside’ is better. I mean, the Nelsons have a 40% chance of winning, which is pretty good.”

Considering they’re both incredible albums, I think that’s a great way of looking at it, and the odds are certainly in their favor when it comes to one for the Nelsons winning this category for the first time.

It has to be an incredibly special and full-circle moment for the entire family, as it also includes Willie’s youngest son Micah, who is nominated with his dad as the producer on Willie’s Last Leaf on the Tree record, which is up for Best Americana Album.

Saying he’s timeless doesn’t even feel close to an accurate description of the Red Headed Stranger, and he’s the living, breathing example of how age truly is just a number.

“Workin’ Man Blues”

The post Willie Nelson’s Wife, Annie, Says He Is ‘Benjamin Buttoning’ Her: “He Just Keeps Going & Going” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.