Last night, Willie Nelson was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame by Dave Matthews and gave an acceptance speech at a ceremony held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The 90-year-old country music icon, undeniably deserving of the title “legend,” looked back on his journey from his early days and furthered his legacy by creating music with his friends.

He fondly recalled that these songs were often categorized as “rockabilly” rather than rock & roll, a distinction he never paid much attention to and one that seemed to matter little to his dedicated fan base. In a heartwarming display of musical camaraderie, Nelson graced the stage and joined forces with fellow artists. He was joined by Chris Stapleton, for a rendition of “Whiskey River,” a Johnny Bush classic that has served as the traditional opener for Nelson’s concerts.

Nelson also teamed up with Sheryl Crow, a fellow inductee of 2023, for a performance of “Crazy,” the iconic 1961 ballad he penned, famously sung by Patsy Cline. Following the tune, drums kicked in, and a stellar ensemble, including Nelson, Stapleton, Crow, and Dave Matthews, who officially inducted Nelson and entertained the audience with a solo rendition of “Funny How Time Slips Away,” concluded the tribute with a rousing singalong of Nelson’s beloved anthem, “On the Road Again.”

Matthews’ induction speech added a touch of humor to the evening, recounting how a reporter once asked Nelson about his retirement plans, to which Nelson quipped, “Well, I play golf, and I play music. Which do you want me to give up?”

He also shared anecdotes about Nelson’s affinity for smoking weed and how Snoop Dogg jokingly acknowledged that Nelson could out-smoke him. Matthews also commended Nelson’s altruistic efforts, particularly his work with Farm Aid.

In his own acceptance speech, Nelson emphasized that genres were never a significant concern to him. He reflected on performing with the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis and Ray Charles, stating, “We just sang the songs we loved.” He also expressed his gratitude to his family band, acknowledging his sons, Micah and Lukas Nelson.

Each of the artists paying tribute to Nelson had a special connection with him. He and Stapleton had previously toured together, and Stapleton had even performed Nelson’s songs at a 90th birthday celebration. Matthews and Nelson had shared the stage on various occasions as fellow members of the Farm Aid board.

Nelson’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame follows Dolly Parton’s induction a year earlier. Both were already esteemed members of the Country Music Hall of Fame, joining a select group of dual inductees that includes Jerry Lee Lewis, the Everly Brothers, Jimmie Rodgers, Ray Charles, and Elvis Presley.

Watch a collection of clips from the celebration below.