# Is Willie Nelson really a redhead?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-willie-nelson-really-a-redhead/191490>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 28, 2003, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-willie-nelson-really-a-redhead/191490 "2003-07-28T18:47:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-willie-nelson-really-a-redhead/191490/1 "2003-07-28T18:47:52Z")

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Nelson’s album, _Redheaded Stranger_, is a concept album, I know (and therefore the “redheaded stranger” may not be even slightly autobiographical), but is (or was, at this point) the musician, indeed, a redhead?

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**Author:** ![metroshane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@metroshane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/metroshane)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-willie-nelson-really-a-redhead/191490/2 "2003-07-28T19:07:15Z")

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Yes.

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**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-willie-nelson-really-a-redhead/191490/3 "2003-07-28T19:28:40Z")

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Here’s an album cover showing a young Willie: [In The Jailhouse Now](http://www.mtv.com/bands/az/nelson_willie/66324/album.jhtml)

A better example is “Hello Walls” which I was unable to find on the 'net.

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**Author:** ![Moo\_the\_Magic\_Cow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@Moo\_the\_Magic\_Cow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moo_the_Magic_Cow)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-willie-nelson-really-a-redhead/191490/4 "2003-07-29T12:41:37Z")

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It doesn’t look like it to me.

> **[AllMusic | Record Reviews, Streaming Songs, Genres & Bands](https://www.allmusic.com/?p=amg&sql=A0sp1z88ajyv4&uid=MISS70305180105)**
>
> AllMusic provides comprehensive music info including reviews and biographies. Get recommendations for new music to listen to, stream or own.

> **[AllMusic | Record Reviews, Streaming Songs, Genres & Bands](https://www.allmusic.com/?p=amg&sql=Am8c8b5p4tsqf&uid=MISS70305180105)**
>
> AllMusic provides comprehensive music info including reviews and biographies. Get recommendations for new music to listen to, stream or own.

And in case you were wondering, that is _the_ Willie Nelson.

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**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-willie-nelson-really-a-redhead/191490/5 "2003-07-29T15:26:45Z")

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He didn’t have Carrot-top flaming red hair, but it was red enough in his young days to be called red. My dad was the same way. His nickname was “Red,” but in his 30’s and later it looked brown with reddish highlights.