Willie Nelson To Release Merle Haggard Tribute Album on November 7th

Willie Nelson is honouring his longtime friend and fellow country legend Merle Haggard with a brand-new album, Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle, set for release on 7 November 2025. The record features 11 songs written by Haggard, including staples such as Silver Wings, Swingin’ Doors, and Okie From Muskogee — songs that helped shape the sound of traditional country music.

This release marks Nelson’s 78th solo studio album, extending one of the most remarkable catalogues in American music. It also carries deep emotional weight, featuring the final recordings with his sister and pianist Bobbie Nelson, and drummer Paul English, both long-time members of his Family Band.

A Friendship Etched in Country History

Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard’s friendship stretched across more than half a century, rooted in mutual respect and a shared approach to songwriting. Together they recorded several collaborative albums that remain fan favourites, including Pancho and Lefty (1983), Seashores of Old Mexico (1987), Last of the Breed (2007, with Ray Price), and Django and Jimmie (2015).

“Two friends, forever linked by the road, the stage, and the stories that define country music.”

Their chemistry was effortless — Nelson’s laid-back phrasing met Haggard’s working-class realism in songs that spoke to life’s small victories and losses. Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle brings that connection full circle, revisiting Haggard’s songs with the warmth and weathered grace that have long defined Nelson’s style.

Revisiting “Somewhere Between”

Ahead of the full album, Nelson has released his version of Somewhere Between, co-written by Haggard and his then-wife Bonnie Owens. Originally appearing on Haggard’s 1967 record Branded Man, the song explores the ache of a love suspended between devotion and distance.

“Somewhere between your heart and mine, there’s a love I can’t understand.”

Nelson’s take pares the arrangement back to its essentials — voice, guitar, and a few soft touches from his band. It’s sparse, intimate, and perfectly suited to the emotional pull of the lyrics, reminding listeners just how closely Nelson understood the heart of Haggard’s writing.

A Family Affair Recorded in Austin

Produced by Mickey Raphael, Nelson’s long-time harmonica player, the album was recorded at Pedernales Studios in Austin, Texas. The sessions were kept deliberately close-knit, featuring:

• Kevin Smith – bass

• Billy English – percussion

• The late Paul English – drums

That tight circle gives the record its warmth. These are musicians who have lived these songs for decades, and the result feels like a final conversation among friends — one filled with memory, humour, and quiet reverence.

“It feels like a family affair, made by people who lived the songs as much as they played them.”

Honouring Legacy and Loss

Now 92 years old, Nelson has spent the last decade recording tributes to the greats who shaped his world — from Ray Price to Harlan Howard, Rodney Crowell, and even Frank Sinatra. But Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle carries a special weight. It’s not just about the music; it’s about the shared road and the passing of time.

For UK fans, the record offers a new way to connect with two of country music’s most authentic voices — storytellers whose work continues to influence generations far beyond America’s borders.

Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle is released 7 November 2025 via Legacy Recordings.