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Willie Nelson Joins Austin City Limits Hall of Fame and Earns Fifth-Degree Black Belt at Age 81

Justin Stanger

by Justin Stanger

Published April 28, 2014

Willie-Nelson-Playing-Guitar

Willie Nelson was inducted to the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame on Saturday, April 26th, just three days shy of his 81st birthday. The award was presented by Mathew McConaughey at the University of Texas' Moody Theater. McConaughey stated during his speech, "There would be no Austin City Limits without Willie Nelson." That's because Nelson was the very first to perform on the television show in 1974. Other inductees this year include ACL show creator and producer Bill Arhos, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, and University of Texas Football Coach Darrell Royal, who hosted post-game parties that served as one of the show's inspirations.

Nelson then took the stage with Lyle Lovett and Emmylou Harris to perform a set which included "On the Road Again" and "Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die." He was then joined by Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Buddy Guy to close the night with a rendition of Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Texas Flood."

The ACL award was not Nelson's only recent achievement. He also earned his fifth-degree black belt. The laid back, 80-year-old has been practicing a modern form of Korean martial arts known as Gong Kwon Yu Sul, which he told Men's Health is, "a good form of exercise, especially as you get older."

willie-nelson-black-belt

For more music, news and tour dates, head over to Willie Nelson's Zumic artist page.

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