Willie Nelson’s country music legacy captured in photos

Willie Nelson performs during a campaign rally with Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris on October 25, 2024 in Houston.

(L-R) Chris Stapleton and Willie Nelson perform onstage during the 38th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony on Nov. 3, 2023 in New York City.

Willie Nelson performs during the Farm Aid Music Festival on Sept. 23, 2023 in Noblesville, Ind.

Willie Nelson performs during the Georgetown to Austin March for Democracy rally on July 31, 2021 in Austin, Texas. Texas activists and demonstrators rallied at the Texas state Capitol after completing a 27-mile long march, from Georgetown to Austin, demanding federal action on voting rights legislation.

Nelson, right, and country singer Kacey Musgraves perform at the 53rd Annual CMA Awards on Nov. 13, 2019, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Willie Nelson and Brandi Carlile perform onstage during MusiCares Person of the Year honoring Dolly Parton on Feb. 8, 2019 in Los Angeles.

Nelson, left, and Kris Kristofferson perform at "The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson" on March 16, 2016, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Nelson, center, tips his hat surrounded by mandolinist Sam Bush, left, and Keith Richards onstage at the Merle Haggard Tribute concert on April 6, 2017, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Roger Brown, then-music president at Berklee College, left, Lawrence Simpson and Kris Kristofferson, right, confer an honorary Doctor of Music degree on Nelson during the 2013 Berklee College Of Music commencement ceremony on May 11, 2013, in Boston.

Signatures of fellow musicians cover the surface of Nelson's worn-out N-20 Classical guitar, which he has named Trigger.

Nelson, left, and Ray Charles filmed "The Willie Nelson Special Featuring Ray Charles" in 1985 at the Austin Opry House. The hour-long DVD, released in 2009, features a jazzy set including "Georgia on My Mind" and Nelson standards such as "Whiskey River."

Nelson (front row, center left) takes part in an April 1999 all-star tribute to Johnny Cash in New York. Among those onstage for the finale included (front row, from left to right) Trisha Yearwood, Chris Isaak, June Carter Cash, Johnny Cash, Sheryl Crow and Kris Kristofferson.

Nelson, right, guest stars on the animated television show "King of the Hill" to pick a tune with lead character Hank Hill.

Nelson plays at Woodstock 1999 at Griffiss Park in Rome, New York.

Nelson, a member of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws advisory board, takes a drag off a joint while relaxing at his Texas home in an undated photo from the 2000s. Nelson has been arrested several times for possession of marijuana.

Marijuana isn't the only recreational drug that Nelson, left, has an interest in. Here he lifts one of the first cases of Old Whiskey River made at Heaven Hill Distilleries in Bardstown, Kentucky, in August 2001. The small batch bourbon is named for his song "Whiskey River."

Nelson, left, performs with Sheryl Crow at the 2001 CMA Awards in Nashville.

Nelson, left, and Keith Richards perform the Rolling Stones single "Dead Flowers" during the taping of "Willie Nelson & Friends: Stars and Guitars'' in April 2002.

Nelson, center right, rehearses with – from left to right – Sheryl Crow, Travis Tritt, Kris Kristofferson, Hank Williams Jr. and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band for the 2003 CMA Awards.

From left to right, Nelson appears with Owen Wilson, Morgan Freeman and Harry Dean Stanton in a scene from the 2004 film "The Big Bounce."

Nelson appears in another Super Bowl ad for H&R Block in 2004, this one featuring the Willie Nelson Advice Doll.

Nelson, right, campaigns for then-presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich in 2004. The two joined in on a rendition of "I Saw the Light" at a fundraiser in Austin.

Nelson, left, and Toby Keith perform before the 2004 Super Bowl in Houston. The two had a hit single with "Beer for My Horses" from Keith's 2002 album "Unleashed."

Nelson greets people and signs autographs after doing his sound check at the Democratic National Convention in Boston in July 2004.

Nelson, center, is joined by a full chorus for his performance at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.

Nelson, center left, played Uncle Jesse alongside Jessica Simpson, far left, and Lynda Carter in the 2005 action comedy "The Dukes of Hazzard." 

Nelson, right, performs with Paul Simon at the 2005 CMA Awards.

Nelson, left, teams with his "Beer for My Horses" partner Toby Keith for the 2006 film "Broken Bridges." Nelson played himself in the film.

Nelson, right, and the Rev. Jesse Jackson embrace at the funeral of legendary musician Ray Charles in June 2004.

Nelson performs at the Coachella Music Festival in April 2007 in Indio, California.

Nelson, left, works with country star Kenny Chesney in the studio. Chesney helped produce his 2008 album "Moment of Forever."

Nelson, left, performs with Sara Evans before the 2008 Super Bowl in Phoenix.

Brad Paisley, right, presents the CMA Lifetime Achievement Award to Nelson in November 2012.

Nelson, left, attends the screening of the family drama "Angels Sing" at South by Southwest in Austin, in March 2013.

Nelson combines two of his causes, turning the Human Rights Campaign marriage equality symbol into two joints, for an interview on his bus, the Honeysuckle Rose, in March 2013. To show his support for LGBT rights, Nelson released "Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other" on iTunes in 2006.

A general view of Nelson's tour bus during a Marshall Headphones party at the SXSW 2015 music festival in Austin, on March 18, 2015.

Nelson arrives at the White House to meet with President Bill Clinton before the start of the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony, December 6. Nelson is receiving the honors in the 21st annual celebration of the arts sponsored by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

1998 Kennedy Center honoree Nelson and his wife Annie D'Angelo pose Dec. 5, as they arrive at the State Department for a dinner.

Country star Willie Nelson performs for the crowd at the 30th Annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.