This unedited interview footage, taped by Dallas-based director Jim Ruddy for “Entertainment Tonight,” captures scenes of the 1992 Farm Aid concert held at Texas Stadium in Irving, put on by Willie Nelson, to promote, preserve, and fund the homegrown American farmer. Ruddy captures various crowd shots, which depict most of the audience members being very hot in The Texas summer and repeatedly applying sunscreen. We then are treated to a set by Eddie Rabbitt singing his hit “American Boy.” Ruddy then interviews Ricky Van Shelton, who talks about his interest in the personal tragedies of the American farmers. This is followed by an interview with three members of the Kentucky Headhunters, all of whom mention that they have farming in their families and then an interview with Lorrie Morgan, who has had farmers in her family as well, and hence understands the plight of the rural farmer.
Willie Nelson was born in Abbot, Texas on April 29, 1933. He is a world renowned country music singer and musician, as well as an actor, activist, and author. His most famous country albums include Shotgun Willie (1973), Red Headed Stranger (1975) and Stardust (1978). Nelson popularized the “outlaw country” subgenre along with Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings, and has written some of the most famous country music songs recorded, including Patsy Cline’s “Crazy,” which he wrote at the ripe age of 19, “On the Road Again,” and “Pancho and Lefty.” His primary musical collaboration is with Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, and Waylon Jennings, performing as the Highwaymen, among many others. Nelson was named the honorary chairman of the advisory board of the official music charity of the state of Texas, the Texas Music Project, for his philanthropic work in and outside the music community. He was also inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993 and received a 1998 Kennedy Center Honor.
Nelson has also advocated for marijuana legalization, biodiesel alternative fuel, and is a supporter of democratic campaigns, such as Dennis Kuchinich’s 2004 run. He also founded the annual fundraiser Farm Aid, which benefits the local, American, small farmer, and has featured multitudes of musicians of different genres.
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