Country music icon Willie Nelson is living proof that age doesn’t have to slow you down. The performer, who turned 92 on 29th April, is still going strong after nearly seven decades and hitting the road with the same energy that made him a household name. Despite past health battles with emphysema and COVID-19, Nelson shows no signs of quitting anytime soon.

Now, with the release of his 76th solo studio album, The Last Leaf on the Tree, Nelson is getting candid about ageing and death, and, in typical Willie fashion, he’s taking it all in stride.

In an interview with the Associated Press, the beloved troubadour shared his relaxed attitude toward mortality. “I’m 91 plus, so, you know, I’m not worried about it,” he said. “I don’t feel bad. I don’t hurt anywhere. I don’t have any reason to worry about dying.”

He added, “I take pretty good care of myself. And I feel like I’m in pretty good shape physically. Mentally? That’s another story,” he quipped. The Last Leaf on the Tree, produced by his son Micah, tackles themes of legacy, loss, and longevity.

The album includes covers of songs by Tom Waits and Beck, as well as new originals, one co-written with Micah, all centered on what Willie describes as “facing death with grace.”Nelson is now the last living member of The Highwaymen, the iconic supergroup that also featured Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson. Reflecting on the recent death of Kristofferson, who passed away in September 2024 at the age of 88, Nelson offered a heartfelt tribute.

“He left a lot of fantastic songs around for the rest of us to sing, for as long as we’re here,” Nelson told the AP. “Kris was a great friend of mine. And, you know, we just kind of had a lot of fun together and made a lot of music together — videos, movies. I hated to lose him. That was a sad time.”