“I Knew How Down He Was”: How Willie Nelson’s Son Inspired a ’70s Folk Legend to Hit the Road Again.LC
Rocker Neil Young, 79, credits Willie Nelson’s sonMicah Nelson, 35, for getting him back out on the road after health issues and a cancelled tour derailed the legendary folk rocker’s spirit and left him wondering if the time had come to stop making music and touring.
Micah Nelson, the youngest son of country star Willie Nelson, points to persistence, optimism, and the formation of a new backing band as the keys to helping Young rebound and hit the road again.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the younger Nelson shared how a twist of fate and professional pivot over a decade ago—when Young picked Micah, his brother Lukas Nelson, and Lukas’ band Promise of the Real as his backing band for a series of records, tours, and a movie—helped build a lasting creative partnership.
Micah was first invited to join Crazy Horse, Young’s long-associated backing band. Halfway through the band’s tour, health issues within the band forced the tour to be cut short. The cancellation left Young questioning whether making music and touring was still in his future.
“I knew how bummed out Neil was,” Nelson tells Rolling Stone. “He wasn’t feeling like making music. He was really sick. He was trying to get over that, and just get his energy back. And then he was really bummed out about what happened, and how it all went down. And that just kind of drained him a lot, and doused this flame.”
Inspiration to Get Back Out on the Road
In an attempt to reinvigorate the “Harvest Moon” crooner, Micah came up with the idea to form a new backing band called The Chrome Hearts. In 2024, the band was formed. In addition to Young and Nelson, the group includes Spooner Oldham, along with Promise of the Real’s Corey McCormick and Anthony LoGerfo.
Persistence—with a side of cheerleading—got Young out of the blues and back on tour.
“I was like, ‘Is Neil fading away? This is unacceptable,’” Nelson remembers. “So I’d call him a lot and check in on him and remind him how he’s not old. I was like, ‘Do whatever you got to do, man. Take your time. I get it. Recharge. The tank has got to fill back up, and that can take time, but whenever you want to do the thing again, just call me up and I’m ready to go.’”
Related: Time-Honored ’70s Folk Rocker, 79, Plays Deep Cut for First Time Since 2013
The Chrome Hearts: A New Sound for a Legendary Artist
Throughout Young’s career, he’s been a part of or worked with many backing bands, but according to Nelson, The Chrome Hearts is different. Nelson credits the band’s ability to cross genres and play anything with allowing Young to “do anything,” enabling the music icon to perform deep cuts, new music, and everything in between.
The Chrome Hearts’ first live appearance was at FarmAid 2024. The band released its first album, Talkin to the Trees, in June 2025. It is Young’s 49th studio album.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 18, 2025, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
