Willie Nelson Shares Secrets On Creativity & Devotion In ‘The Last Leaf’ Due In November

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Willie Nelson’s new book The Last Leaf: Reflections on Late-Life Creativity – and My Longest Love Affair, is set to be released from Penguin Press on Nov. 10.

In the new book Nelson shares his well-earned wisdom about reaching an astonishing creative flourishing, and an even deeper union with the love of his life for four decades, Annie. At 93, Nelson has not been slowing down. In the past 12 years, he has recorded 21 new albums, written more than 50 new songs and seven books, and headlined over 800 live shows. With his trademark wit, he opens up and brings readers in touch with the same inexhaustible, vital stream of energy he has learned how to stay tapped into. The book also flashes back to life-altering moments, including the facing of almost certain death during COVID and what Nelson gained from that.

Woven into his recollections of his own life as an artist is the beautiful and often hilarious account of how the fiery spirit of Annie, his wife/best friend, has matched his own. In the book he shares how that love for her has deepened with time into the pure harmony of sustained partnership.

“The backbone of this book is a love story,” says Nelson. “The heroine is my wife, Annie, who kept me alive when I was sure I was gone. COVID nearly got me. I was hurting so bad I wanted out. But Annie wouldn’t let me go. The years I’ve lived since then are because of Annie. And so is this book.”

Lorie Hollabaugh
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