George Strait and Willie Nelson have been friends and each other’s crutches for years and bond over their shared love of music whenever they get the chance. A source exclusively tells Closer the two intend to keep the good times rolling until they ride into the sunset.
“They go way back and they’ve performed on stage and recorded songs together,” the insider says, “so it is always a trip when they meet up, just like old times.”
Despite Willie being nearly 20 years George’s senior, that kind of age difference doesn’t make much of a difference in a friendship when at 92 and 72 years old, respectively. They’re both Texas-born musicians at heart and share a love for free-spirited revelry, though George is known to prefer to knock back a few while Willie prefers to indulge in cannabis more than now and then.
The “Amarillo by Morning” singer even surprised his old friend by joining him on stage and giving a rare performance at his 89th birthday back in April 2022. They performed “Pancho and Lefty,” together, which was a song Willie had originally put out and made famous with Merle Haggard, and the fan-favorite “Sing One with Willie,” which George had previously recorded in tribute to his good buddy.
When accepting the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the CMAs in November 2024, George graciously paid respect to the “On the Road Again” singer, saying, “I want to thank the CMAs for adding my name to the incredible artists on this small list of recipients, carrying the name of the icon Willie Nelson.”
While the public displays of admiration paid toward each other certainly hint at their mutual respect, the source notes their bond goes much deeper than the spotlight and is as down-to-earth as they are.
“They’ve been supportive of each other through so many ups and downs,” the insider says. Both men have experienced their share of heartbreak over the years.
Willie has been open about the huge tax debt that made his life a living hell in the early 1990s and the health scares he suffered, including a collapsed lung while in Hawaii in 1981 and more recent concerns around some of his cancelled tour dates.
George on the other hand lost his 13-year-old daughter in a car accident in 1986, which caused him to limit his contact with the media and refuse interviews for years afterwards.
But nowadays the two are all about relaxing over their shared musical passion.
“They like to jam with their musicians even if it’s just for fun and get the families together for special occasions,” the insider adds. “When they’re on stage, it’s mesmerizing and the audience adores them and afterwards they hang out with the crew joking and reminiscing.”
“Willie and George may be getting up in years, but they do enjoy each other’s company, which makes them such great road buddies, and you can’t ask more out of life than that.”