One of the men who helped Willie Nelson build his long and storied career has died. Chris Ethridge, a country rock bassist who’s perhaps best known as the co-founder of the Flying Burrito Brothers, died Monday (April 23) after being hospitalized in Meridian, Miss. last week.
Today is considered a major holiday for some country music stars. Of course Willie Nelson is famously celebrating April 20 — a date which is an informal celebration of marijuana — but more than a few others at least recognized its existence. Find out who in this look at the week’s best tweets from country music’s biggest stars.
April 20 isn’t an official holiday recognized by more stodgy establishments like the US government, but for a certain group of Americans, it’s a de facto Independence Day. Longtime marijuana connoisseur and legalization advocate Willie Nelson has chosen 4/20 as the day to stream his new song ‘Roll Me Up’ on his official website.
Much like Johnny Cash on ‘Hurt,’ Willie Nelson makes fans aware of his fragile mortality with an evocative cover of Pearl Jam‘s ‘Just Breathe.’ The famous country singer is joined by his son Lukas on this first listen of music from the upcoming ‘Heroes’ album. Together, they silence the room. Only a stone will keep from fighting tears after a few listens.
As the president of Farm Aid, it’s no secret that Willie Nelson is a supporter of family farmers across the nation, and the country legend also recently spoke up in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement. But there’s another — perhaps less championed — cause that Nelson cares deeply about, and that’s making sure animals have a good home and are treated well. The ‘Always on My Mind’ singer rece