# On This Day in 1980, the Soundtrack to Willie Nelson’s First Starring Film Hit No. 1 and Gave Him One of His Biggest Hits

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/on-this-day-in-1980-the-soundtrack-to-willie-nelsons-first-starring-film-hit-no-1-and-gave-him-one-of-his-biggest-hits/
- Published: 2026-11-12T18:15:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-12T21:06:13+00:00
- Original publisher: American Songwriter
- Original article: https://americansongwriter.com/on-this-day-in-1980-the-soundtrack-to-willie-nelsons-first-starring-film-hit-no-1-and-gave-him-one-of-his-biggest-hits/
- Topics: Entertainment, Film, Music

## Key points

- *Honeysuckle Rose* soundtrack spent six weeks at No. 1.
- Both of its singles became country chart-toppers.
- Nelson wrote “On the Road Again” for the film.

## Summary

Willie Nelson’s *Honeysuckle Rose* soundtrack reached No. 1 on the US country albums chart on 12 November 1980, during a six-week run at the top. The film marked Nelson’s first starring role, and the soundtrack helped deliver two of his biggest hit singles.

Nelson wrote most of the songs and produced the double album, which also featured Emmylou Harris, Hank Cochran and Johnny Gimble. Both singles, “On the Road Again” and “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground”, topped the country chart. Nelson wrote “On the Road Again” for the film after director Jerry Schatzberg and producer Sydney Pollack asked him for a song about touring; it later earned an Oscar nomination and won a Grammy for Best Country Song.

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