Willie Nelson has published an open letter urging local communities to unite and "fight" against the spread of data centres in rural America, warning that the huge server warehouses harm both the environment and small local businesses. The country music icon and long-time environmental activist, a founder of the farm-support charity Farm Aid, framed the issue as a threat to family farms and rural livelihoods, arguing that America's strength comes from open spaces and local communities rather than large industrial developments.

In the letter, shared on social media on Tuesday 28 July, Nelson described data centres as "loud", "water-thieving" and "light polluting", and said he did not want them near his hometown of Abbott, Texas, or anywhere else. He linked the issue to control over food and water resources, and called for "thoughtful stewardship" instead. His intervention comes amid growing concern across the US over data centres' heavy water and energy use, with some areas already banning or delaying new developments; Nelson has raised over $70million through Farm Aid for rural farmers and released his 79th solo album, "Dream Chaser", in May.