Willie Nelson Performs ‘Last Leaf’ And Has Kris Kristofferson Fans All Emotional

Willie Nelson first performed “Last Leaf,” by Tom Waits in August, likely as a tribute to the fact that he is one of the last surviving artists in the outlaw country genre; however, fans think he is also acknowledging his late friend Kris Kristofferson.

Kris died in September after suffering a series of health issues, including memory loss, Lyme disease, and fibromyalgia, although the exact cause of his death is yet to be revealed. Although Willie did not post a tribute on social media, his son Lukas Nelson did, calling Kris his inspiration.

The Highwaymen

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Willie’s cover of the 2011 release might as well be a tribute to Kris, as it is a pointer that he is the last of the Highwaymen— their band from the ‘80s. Willie, Kris, and two others, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash, formed the group while pioneering the outlaw country genre.

Cash and Waylon’s demise in the early 2000s left just Kris and Willie in the group, bringing them closer and performing together on several occasions over the years. Both legends admired each other, with Willie noting that Kris was the best songwriter he had ever known and credited country music’s renaissance to him.

@lyndafay64 #fyp #willienelson #thehighwaymen #lastone #viralvideo #♥️ ♬ original sound – Lynda

Fans react to ‘Last Leaf’

Willie’s version of “Last Leaf” has sparked conversation among country fans online as they speculate the goal behind the song. Seeing that Willie did not post a tribute but did the track, it just might be his farewell message to his old friend. “Just listened to it. I’ve got chills; so beautiful,” someone commented.

Another noted that they were thinking of the exact song when they heard the news about Kris’ passing, and another fan said it helped them cope with losing a parent. “My father recently passed a few weeks ago so this was truly a gift. Thank you Willie, you truly are a soul healer. Love you all ways, always,” they wrote.