Willie Nelson Honored At Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing Celebration

The Recording Academy and MusiCares President/CEO Neil Portnow (L) honors Willie Nelson onstage during the Producers & Engineers Wing 12th annual GRAMMY week event honoring Willie Nelson at Village Studios on February 6, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for NARAS)

Willie Nelson was feted at the Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing’s annual Grammy Week celebration yesterday (Feb. 6) at The Village Studios in West Los Angeles. Now in its 12th year, the event celebrated the artistic achievements and creative genius of Nelson and also acknowledged the overall industry contributions of the Producers & Engineers Wing’s more than 6,400 professional members.

Kacey Musgraves, Dave Matthews, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Ziggy Marley, Lisa Loeb, Feist, and Diane Warren were all on hand for the celebration to help honor the beloved music icon. While introducing Willie Nelson, Musgraves spoke to the crowd about Nelson’s keen ability to unite people from all demographics; from women to men, rappers and Presidents. She told a quick story about when she inquisitively asked him, “Why didn’t you run for President?” and Willie responded matter of factly, “Because I’d win!” The room full of industry guests burst out in agreeable laugher.

Dave Matthews surprised the crowd with a stripped down version of Nelson’s song, “Funny How Time Slips Away,” and Willie closed out the show by joining Matthews and performing alongside his sons Lukas and Micah singing, “Living In the Promise Land.”

“Willie is an incomparable songwriter, musician and producer, and he has amassed admirable credentials as an author, actor, and activist, and he continues to thrive as a relevant and progressive musical and cultural force,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the Recording Academy. “Since I began my career in this industry, and certainly since taking leadership of the Recording Academy in 2002, I have been privileged to work with artists who expand their craft into larger issues. Willie is one of the icons, and he has been a standard-bearer for all of us.”

Grammy Week culminates with the 61st Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10 which airs live on CBS at 7:30 p.m. ET.