Top 3 Willie Nelson Songs Performed by Other Artists

For the majority of his career, Willie Nelson has stood front and center. Soaking up the spotlight, the screams, and the surplus of applause. However, like everybody in this game, he had to wait his turn. How he did was by writing exquisitely beautiful songs and gifting them to other famous country musicians. This tactic benefited Nelson in two ways. First off, it let him practice his craft extensively, and secondly, when his songs were picked up it gave him a vast amount of exposure.

Even though giving up a personally beloved song to somebody else might seem difficult, it has to be done. Willie Nelson knew this, as he realized the only way to his final goal was by becoming a great songwriter. So, Nelson wrote some of the most beautiful songs and gifted them to some of the most talented musicians. As a result of the pairing, these musicians scored some of their biggest hits. Here are three musicians who sang the best versions of Willie Nelson’s songs.

“Crazy” by Patsy Cline

Released by Cline in 1961, Nelson’s “Crazy” garnered Cline three Billboard placements. It reached the No. 2 spot on the Hot Country Singles chart, the No. 9 spot on the Hot 100, and No. 2 spot on the Easy Listening chart. Furthermore, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and The National Recording Registry.

Upon hearing the demo of Nelson’s song, producer Owen Bradly thought it would be a phenomenal fit for Cline. So he took it to Cline, and without evening listening to the whole song she agreed to record it. This was one of Nelson’s first big breaks in the business and one instance that led to his future song sales.

“Hello Walls” by Faron Young

To this day Young’s rendition of the Nelson song is considered to be one of his greatest hits of all time. Following its release in 1961, the song was No. 1 on Billboard’s country chart for nine weeks. In total, it spent 23 weeks on the chart. Additionally, the song scored Young his first-ever pop hit, as the song peaked at No. 12 on the pop charts in the United States.

Young discovered both Willie Nelson and the song at Nashville’s infamous Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge on Broadway. Nelson sat down next to Young, pitched it, and he loved it. Young then recorded the song and shortly after it was released and became one of the biggest country hits of the ’60s.

“Pretty Paper” by Roy Orbison

Released in 1964, this Nelson song is one of his very few Christmas tunes. Nonetheless, when Orbinson released the song it reached the No. 15 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, the No. 10 spot on the Adult Contemporary Chart, and the No. 27 on the Christmas Singles chart. Needless to say, Nelson’s lyrics and Orbison’s cool charisma and voice got the job done…and some more.

In 1963, Nelson sang the tune to the man who signed him to Monument Records, Fred Foster. Subsequently, Foster loved the song but just didn’t think it was for Nelson. So, he sent the song across the pond to Decca Records and Roy Orbison, and well, the rest is history.

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