# Willie Nelson, 93, Reveals Why He Never Expected To Live Past 21: “I Did Everything Wrong”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/willie-nelson-93-reveals-why-he-never-expected-to-live-past-21-i-did-everything-wrong/
- Published: 2026-11-08T15:14:01+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-08T16:40:16+00:00
- Original publisher: American Songwriter
- Original article: https://americansongwriter.com/willie-nelson-93-reveals-why-he-never-expected-to-live-past-21-i-did-everything-wrong/
- Topics: Americas, World

## Key points

- Nelson says he never expected to live past 21.
- He credits performing with giving him lasting enjoyment.
- His new memoir reflects on death and what may follow.

## Summary

Willie Nelson says he never expected to live beyond 21, given his past drinking, smoking and use of pills. Now 93 and preparing to publish a memoir, he describes himself as lucky to have outlived many friends and says performing remains a source of enjoyment.

Nelson says he wants to keep making music, live happily with his wife and avoid worrying about the future. In his forthcoming memoir, *The Last Leaf*, he reflects on death and describes his belief that one journey follows another, with no final end.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.