‘Last Leaf on the Tree’: Willie Nelson’s New Album Feels Like a Farewell Wrapped in Music. ML
Willie Nelson to Release New Album ‘Last Leaf on the Tree’ This November — Produced by His Son Micah
Country music legend Willie Nelson has announced the release of a brand-new album, Last Leaf on the Tree, which will drop on November 1. The project adds yet another milestone to the 91-year-old’s towering musical career, bringing his total album count to 153 and marking his 76th solo studio album.
This album is particularly meaningful for the Nelson family — for the first time, Micah Nelson, Willie’s 34-year-old son, is taking on the role of producer. Although the two have shared the stage and collaborated musically on previous family albums, Last Leaf on the Tree is the first record with Micah leading production and contributing original songwriting.
The album was recorded in Venice, California, at Micah’s own Hen House studio, giving the project an intimate, homemade feel. The duo explores themes of life, aging, and legacy with sensitivity and warmth, creating what may be one of Willie’s most reflective works to date.
The first track from the album, a cover of Tom Waits’ “Last Leaf,” was released alongside the album announcement. Nelson’s solo interpretation of the song, originally performed by Waits and Keith Richards, is stripped down and poignant, bringing new meaning to lyrics about survival, aging, and resilience.
Another Tom Waits song featured on the album is “House Where Nobody Lives.”
The tracklist also includes a heartfelt cover of “If It Wasn’t Broken” by Sunny War, a.k.a. Sydney Lyndella Ward. The folk singer expressed her amazement and gratitude upon learning of Nelson’s rendition of her song, saying, “It’s the sweetest and greatest thing that’s ever happened to me as a writer and musician.” Sunny War recalled performing the song years ago on the Venice Beach boardwalk, never imagining it would one day reach Nelson’s ears.
Alongside Willie and Micah’s contributions, the album features an eclectic mix of guest musicians: pedal steel guitarist Raphael Lanois, Doors drummer John Densmore, and Senegalese percussionist Magatte Sow, all of whom bring diverse textures and sounds to the record.
Willie Nelson contributes two new original songs to the album: “The Ghost” and “Color of Sound”, the latter written in collaboration with Micah. Micah also wrote “Wheels”, a song that complements the album’s contemplative mood.
In an official statement, Micah said the album reflects how he and his father have been approaching the idea of mortality and aging. “There are little side-quests,” he noted, “but that became the through-line — facing death with grace.”
Available for digital download, CD, and vinyl LP, the album will also be released in a special edition with a limited lithograph — a collector’s item for longtime fans.
As he approaches nearly eight decades in the music industry, Willie Nelson continues to innovate and connect deeply with listeners, proving that at 91, he still has more stories to tell — and songs to sing.
