Willie Nelson Family Covers A Carter Family Classic, “Keep On The Sunny Side,” On New Gospel Album

Willie Nelson, Bobbie Nelson country music

The Carter family and Nelson family are both country music royalty.

And today, the Willie Nelson Family is releasing their new “spirit-driven” album with a tip of the cap to the Carter family by covering their classic song, “Keep On The Sunny Side”.

Written in 1899 by Ada Blenkhorn, it was first recorded by the Carter family in Camden, New Jersey in 1928. They treated it as a sort of theme song over the years, playing it often, and they eventually included it as the title track on their 1964 album. That version also included a feature from guest vocalist Johnny Cash (who was famously married to the one and only June Carter Cash).

Willie Nelson, along with his sister Bobbie Lee, and kids Lukas, Micah, Amy, and Paula, included some final recordings Nelson made with longtime drummer Paul English, who passed away last year, as well as covers of George Harrison’s “All Things Must Pass”, and Kris Kristofferson’s “Why Me”, on this new record.

If you can even believe it, the release of The Willie Nelson Family album makes it Willie’s 96th studio album.

It’s pretty cool to see Willie get the whole family together to sing some gospel songs and classics from early in his career, like “Family Bible,” which was one of his original hits he wrote back 1957.

Most of the songs they chose are from the family repertoire of tracks that they sing together often out on the road, as it’s pretty common to see Lukas and Micah, especially, performing with Willie now when he plays a show.

And yes, age really is just a number, because Willie hasn’t missed a beat:

“Kneel At The Feet Of Jesus”

“In The Garden”

“All Things Must Pass”

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