It’s downright incredible that the Nelson family is bursting with talent. They often sing together as part of Willie’s family band and his sons Lukas and Micah are nothing short of amazing artists in their own right.
A few years ago, this dynamic trio, Willie Nelson and his boys, came together for a little series. What did they do, you ask? Well, they treated us to some stripped-down, acoustic versions of Willie’s timeless classics. You don’t need to imagine how the legendary Willie, alongside his incredibly talented sons, breathed new life into the hit “Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain.” Let’s watch it in the video below:
“Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain” holds a special place in the Nelson family’s heart. It was the first song Willie taught Lukas to play on the guitar, a touching gift for his father’s birthday one year.
He shared, ““The first song that you taught me dad, when I was a kid, was ‘Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain.’ That was the first chord I ever learned, was E.
I remember asking you what you wanted for your birthday, I was like 10 or 11, and you’re like, ‘You know what would make me happy, is if you learned to play guitar.’ And I took that to heart, and you taught me that night ‘Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain.’”
Originally written by Fred Rose and famously performed by Roy Acuff, this song has a rich history in country music. It’s been covered by legends like Hank Williams Sr. and Charley Pride, but it was Willie Nelson’s rendition on his 1975 album “Red Headed Stranger” that truly catapulted it to fame.
In October of that same year, “Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain” became Willie’s very first #1 hit on the Billboard U.S. Hot Country Songs chart. The success didn’t stop there. At the 18th Annual Grammy Awards, Willie clinched the award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for his soul-stirring rendition of “Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain,” marking the first of his impressive 12 Grammy wins.