Willie Nelson Says He Has No Reason to 'Worry About Dying' at 91: 'I'm in Pretty Good Shape'

Mar. 15, 2025

Willie Nelson in Raleigh, North Carolina in September 2022.Photo:Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP/Getty

Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP/Getty

Willie Nelsonknows that age is nothing but a number.On Friday, Nov. 1, in honor of the release of his 76th solo studio album and 153rd album overall,Last Leaf on the Tree,the 91-year-old country starspoke to the Associated Press, sharing his candid thoughts about death, revealing why it’s something he’s “not worried about” at all.“I’m 91 plus, so, you know, I’m not worried about it. I don’t feel bad. I don’t hurt anywhere. I don’t have any reason to worry about dying,” said Nelson, noting that he takes “pretty good care of myself.““And I feel like I’m in pretty good shape physically. Mentally? That’s another story,” he joked.The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!His new project includes 13 tracks, two of which he wrote— “The Ghost” and “Color of Sound.” Nelson wrote “Color of Sound” alongsidehis son, Micah, 34, who also wrote the song “Wheels.“With a decades-long career catalog, Nelson told the news agency that he hopes the legacy he leaves one day is all about his music.Willie Nelson performs at the 30th Annual Bridge School Benefit concert on Day 1 at Shoreline Amphitheatre in October 2016.Steve Jennings/WireImage"I had a good time. And I did what I came here to do: make music,” said Nelson.When the legendary artist reached another milestone — his 90th birthday — in 2023, hetold PEOPLE while speaking about his age, “I never thought I’d get here.““I get a lot of fun out of playing for an audience. There’s a great energy exchange there. It’s what keeps me going,” he said at the time.Willie Nelson performs on stage during the Farm Aid Music Festival at the Coastal Credit Union Music Park in Raleigh, North Carolina, in September 2022.Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP/GettyIn 2018, the musician revealed on hisSiriusXM radio showthat he celebrates his birthday on both April 29 and April 30 due to how his birth was registered in 1933.“I was born before midnight on the 29th, but it didn’t get registered in the county courthouse until the next day, the 30th,” Nelson said at the time. “So it went out officially as the 30th. I just do both days.“Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Last Leaf on the Treeis out now.

Willie Nelsonknows that age is nothing but a number.

On Friday, Nov. 1, in honor of the release of his 76th solo studio album and 153rd album overall,Last Leaf on the Tree,the 91-year-old country starspoke to the Associated Press, sharing his candid thoughts about death, revealing why it’s something he’s “not worried about” at all.

“I’m 91 plus, so, you know, I’m not worried about it. I don’t feel bad. I don’t hurt anywhere. I don’t have any reason to worry about dying,” said Nelson, noting that he takes “pretty good care of myself.”

“And I feel like I’m in pretty good shape physically. Mentally? That’s another story,” he joked.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

His new project includes 13 tracks, two of which he wrote— “The Ghost” and “Color of Sound.” Nelson wrote “Color of Sound” alongsidehis son, Micah, 34, who also wrote the song “Wheels.”

With a decades-long career catalog, Nelson told the news agency that he hopes the legacy he leaves one day is all about his music.

Willie Nelson performs at the 30th Annual Bridge School Benefit concert on Day 1 at Shoreline Amphitheatre in October 2016.Steve Jennings/WireImage

Steve Jennings/WireImage

“I had a good time. And I did what I came here to do: make music,” said Nelson.

When the legendary artist reached another milestone — his 90th birthday — in 2023, hetold PEOPLE while speaking about his age, “I never thought I’d get here.”

“I get a lot of fun out of playing for an audience. There’s a great energy exchange there. It’s what keeps me going,” he said at the time.

Willie Nelson performs on stage during the Farm Aid Music Festival at the Coastal Credit Union Music Park in Raleigh, North Carolina, in September 2022.Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP/Getty

In 2018, the musician revealed on hisSiriusXM radio showthat he celebrates his birthday on both April 29 and April 30 due to how his birth was registered in 1933.

“I was born before midnight on the 29th, but it didn’t get registered in the county courthouse until the next day, the 30th,” Nelson said at the time. “So it went out officially as the 30th. I just do both days.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Last Leaf on the Treeis out now.

source: people.com