Willie Nelson Just Announced Album No. 76, and the Name Has Fans Wondering If It’s His Last. ML
Willie Nelson Announces 153rd Album ‘Last Leaf on the Tree,’ Featuring Songs with Son Micah and Cover of Tom Waits Classic
At 91 years old, Willie Nelson shows no signs of slowing down. The country music icon just announced the release of his 153rd album overall, titled Last Leaf on the Tree, due out on November 1, 2025.
The upcoming record will mark Nelson’s 76th solo studio album, further solidifying his place as one of the most prolific recording artists in American music history. This new release is especially personal — it’s the first time that Nelson’s son, Micah Nelson, is stepping in as producer on one of his father’s albums.
Micah, 34, has performed alongside his father for years and previously collaborated on family-themed records like Willie and the Boys (2017) and The Willie Nelson Family (2021). But Last Leaf on the Tree marks a new milestone for the duo, as Micah not only produces the project but also contributes as a songwriter.
The album’s lead single, a cover of Tom Waits’ “Last Leaf”, was released on Thursday, August 15. The song, originally recorded by Waits and Keith Richards in 2011, now gets a stripped-down and deeply introspective rendition by Nelson, who performs it solo. He also includes another Waits classic, “House Where Nobody Lives.”
A standout moment on the 13-track album is Nelson’s cover of “If It Wasn’t Broken”, originally by folk singer Sunny War (Sydney Lyndella Ward). In the press release, Ward called the experience “the sweetest and greatest thing that’s ever happened to me as a writer and musician.” She reflected on her early years performing the song on the Venice Beach boardwalk, never imagining it would one day be recorded by Willie Nelson. Fittingly, the album was also recorded in Venice, California, at Micah Nelson’s Hen House Studio.
Guest musicians on the album include an impressive lineup, featuring Raphael Lanois on pedal steel guitar, John Densmore (from The Doors) on drums, and Magatte Sow on percussion, bringing a unique mix of folk, country, and global rhythms to the record.
Willie Nelson contributed two original tracks to the album: “The Ghost” and “Color of Sound”, the latter co-written with Micah. Micah also penned a third track on his own titled “Wheels.”
In the album’s press release, Micah opened up about how the project reflects on life, mortality, and the passage of time. “There are little side-quests,” he explained, “but that became the through-line — facing death with grace.” The deeply personal tone of the album adds a contemplative layer to Nelson’s already legendary discography.
Last Leaf on the Tree will be available in digital, CD, and vinyl LP formats, including a special limited-edition version that comes with a collectible lithograph. Pre-orders are currently open through the artist’s official channels.
As Willie Nelson approaches a tenth decade of life, Last Leaf on the Tree stands as both a celebration of his enduring artistry and a touching meditation on life’s later chapters.
