Willie Nelson releases a new single, “Oh What A Beautiful World,” the title track of his upcoming album, “Oh What A Beautiful World.” Due out April 25 through Legacy Recordings, this will be a staggering 154th album by Nelson and 77th solo studio effort, further solidifying his status as the legendary entity he’s become. This is a deeply felt tribute to his fellow Texas songwriting legend, Rodney Crowell.
The title track, “Oh What A Beautiful World,” was the first to make the waves, a song that started on Crowell’s 2014 release Tarpaper Sky. This time, it springs to life in a way that is all its own, as Nelson and Crowell sing it as a duet that sounds like two old friends sitting on a front porch at sunset, reminiscing. Their voices have an undeniable warmth, weathered yet wise, senior but resilient.
The song itself is a subtle revelation. The simple strum of the guitar seamlessly blends with the soft harmonies poured by Crowell into a sound that feels as homely as warm socks. Their delivery is easy yet incredibly powerful, like a shared nod between two storytellers who have done it all, felt it all, and still believe in its beauty.
“Oh What A Beautiful World” is a meditation on time’s inexorable passage and, yes, the rare and fleeting moments that redeem it. Willie is at his peak, reducing the immensity of existence to something profoundly simple and utterly human. And with the complete album promising more reimaginings of Crowell’s classics, this release is becoming a love letter to the past, written with the wisdom of the present. The upcoming album is an occasion to pause and celebrate a living legend who, even at 92, still implores us to slow down, take it all in, and, most importantly, soak in the beauty of the world around us.
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