Willie Nelson Reflects on Marriage and Late-Life Artistry in New Book

Willie Nelson will reflect on life, music, and marriage in the country legend’s new book The Last Leaf, arriving this November.

True to its title, The Last Leaf: Reflections on Late-Life Creativity—and My Longest Love Affair finds the still-prolific and still-touring 93-year-old sharing his secrets to remaining artistically active. Additionally, Nelson also shares recollections and anecdotes about “his wife and best friend for four decades” Annie, charting from when they first met to their long marriage to how she willed him back from certain death.

“The backbone of this book is a love story,” Nelson said in a statement. “The heroine is my wife, Annie, who kept me alive when I was sure I was gone. COVID nearly got me. I was hurting so bad I wanted out. But Annie wouldn’t let me go. The years I’ve lived since then are because of Annie. And so is this book.”

The Last Leaf, due out November 10 via Penguin Press, marks Nelson’s first book since 2023’s Energy Follows Thought: The Stories Behind My Songs. As prolific Nelson has remained with music — he’s already released 11 albums in the 2020s — he’s almost kept pace with the pen as The Last Leaf is his sixth book this decade.

Nelson’s most recent album, Dream Chaser, arrived in late May, just a month after he turned 93. As usual, Nelson will spend the summer on the road with a lengthy amphitheater tour that culminates September 26 at Farm Aid in Virginia Beach, Virginia.