The trailer for Willie Nelson & Family, the four-part documentary by directors Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman, offers a glimpse of the colorful life of the Red Headed Stranger.
The clip features some of the rare archival clips that anchor the film, including images of Nelson playing his guitar Trigger, hanging with fellow musicians, and even falling into an inflatable pool backstage at a festival. There’s also loads of footage of Nelson onstage with his Family Band, including his sister Bobbie Nelson, who died in 2022.
Along with Nelson’s own interviews, many of the numerous artists he’s performed with and influenced appear on-screen. The trailer opens with Kenny Chesney saying how, “Willie wrote his truth, but in an unbelievable way, he wrote mine.” Dolly Parton, Brenda Lee, Bill Anderson, Don Was, Bobby Bare, Sheryl Crow, Shelby Lynne, and Jeannie Seely all pop up.
Willie Nelson & Family, produced by Yellowstone’s Taylor Sheridan, premieres Dec. 21 on Paramount+.
Nelson turned 90 back in April and was celebrated by a cavalcade of guests over two nights at the Hollywood Bowl. A concert recording and DVD of the event, Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90 Live at the Hollywood Bowl, will be released on Friday, Dec. 15. Keith Richards, George Strait, Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, Margo Price, Billy Strings, the Chicks, Bobby Weir, the Avett Brothers, and more all sing for or with Nelson on the project.
Nelson released his most recent album, Bluegrass, in September, a collection of hits like “On the Road Again” and “Bloody Mary Morning” interpreted as bluegrass. The album is nominated for a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album.