Oh What a Beautiful World is the 77th solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Willie Nelson. It was released on April 25, 2025, through Legacy Recordings. Produced by Buddy Cannon, the album contains twelve songs written or co-written by Rodney Crowell, who performs harmony vocals on the lead single and title track. The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Country Album at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards.
Background Nelson's first studio recording of a Crowell song came with "'Til I Gain Control Again" on the 1983 Waylon Jennings duet album Take It to the Limit, although he had previously performed the song in concert as on the 1978 album Willie and Family Live. Over the next four decades, Nelson continued to record Crowell songs (prominently on 2024 album The Border) and he personally chose the twelve songs for this album.
Critical reception
No Depression praised the "radiant" album and Nelson's performances of Crowell's "emotionally resonant" songs." Hot Press noted that "Crowell's canon mines classic Nelson territory", adding that the album is "a splendid record."
Track listing
Personnel Credits adapted from Tidal. Willie Nelson – lead vocals, Trigger Wyatt Beard – background vocals Jim "Moose" Brown – organ, piano, Wurlitzer piano Buddy Cannon – production, background vocals Melonie Cannon – background vocals Tony Castle – mixing, engineering Rodney Crowell – lead and harmony vocals on "Oh What a Beautiful World" Fred Eltringham – drums, percussion Andrew Mendelson – mastering James Mitchell – electric guitar Mickey Raphael – harmonica Bobby Terry – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, steel guitar, additional engineering Michael Walter – engineering assistance Glenn Worf – bass guitar, double bass
Charts + Chart performance for Oh What a Beautiful World Chart (2025) Peakposition Croatian International Albums (HDU) 4 UK Albums Sales (OCC) 49
References