About Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 30, 1933) is an American country singer-songwriter, author, poet, actor and activist. He reached his greatest fame during the outlaw country movement of the 1970s, but remains iconic, especially in American popular culture. He has continued to tour, record and perform in recent years, and these activities, combined with his advocacy for marijuana legalization and 2006 arrest for marijuana possession, have made him the subject of renewed media attention.