The Artist Who Stood Above the Rest Willie Nelsons Unforgettable Praise for Leon Russell
Across his 92 remarkable years on Earth, Willie Nelson has shared rooms, stages, highways, and long nights with more great musicians than most people could ever imagine. As one of the last true giants of American music — and newly honored in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — Willie has witnessed the entire modern history of popular and country music unfold right in front of him. Few artists have seen more. Even fewer have understood more.
And that is why, when Willie Nelson decides to call someone the greatest, the world listens.
Throughout his life, Willie has praised artists across every genre. He has played with rock legends, soul innovators, and even hip-hop trailblazers. He has always admired musicians who break free from categories, who find a way to express something timeless no matter what box the industry tries to place them in. That is why he has often said that the finest line he ever heard in a country song came from Hank Williams, quoting the haunting opening of I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry:
“The silence of a falling star lights up a purple sky…”
To Willie, that lyric captured loneliness with unmatched beauty.
But even with all that admiration, there is one artist he placed above the rest.
In his words, the “greatest musician, singer, writer, and entertainer I ever saw or heard” was Leon Russell.
Coming from Willie Nelson, that isn’t just praise — it is something close to a lifetime verdict. In his 2012 book Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die, Willie described Russell as a hero, a collaborator, and a friend. He revealed that the two had even completed a duet album titled Together Again, a project that was ultimately shelved but remained one of his cherished memories.
Willie recalled the first time he saw Russell perform in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Twenty thousand fans stood on their feet, shouting through an entire show. The night before, Willie and Leon had stayed up until sunrise — talking, drinking, sharing the simple bond only musicians on the road truly understand. As the sun came up, they walked onstage together. Willie later wrote, “It was the greatest sight I ever saw.”
In the end, Willie’s tribute to Leon Russell is more than nostalgia.
It is a reminder of what true artistry looks like — not just virtuosity, but soul.
Not just fame, but authenticity.
Not just performance, but presence.
To Willie Nelson, Leon Russell wasn’t simply great.
He was singular — a light no one else ever matched.
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