Willie Nelson’s ‘Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle’: Review

Merle Haggard wrote the song referenced in the title of Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle, but the “Workin’ Man” label certainly fits Willie Nelson. Now 92, he is not only still performing concerts but also issuing new recordings at a faster pace than most artists half his age. This latest LP—his 155th (not a typo!) and at least his 10th since 2020—pays tribute to Haggard, his friend and collaborator of many years, who died in 2016.

Nelson’s distinctive, world-weary voice is a good fit for the songs on Workin’ Man, which benefits from his masterfully played guitar and backup by co-producer Mickey Raphael (harmonica), Billy English (drums) and Kevin Smith (electric and upright bass). Also featured in their final recordings with Nelson are two of his longtime accompanists: his sister, Bobbie, and drummer Paul English, who died in 2022 and 2020, respectively.

Related: A new book analyzes Nelson’s massive album catalog

The program features 11 numbers written (or in two cases, co-written) by Haggard, and embraces some of his best-known songs, including “Silver Wings,” “Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down,” “If We Make It Through December,” “Okie from Muskogee,” “Today I Started Loving You Again” and “Mama Tried.” Granted, Haggard’s original versions of these tunes are definitive, but you can’t go wrong with a talent as big as Nelson’s and songs as great as these.

The title, via Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, arrived November 7, 2025, and is available in the U.S./worldwide here, in Canada here and in the U.K. here.