Willie Nelson and Brandon Coleman of The Red Clay Strays released a new version of Willie’s classic Christmas song “Pretty Paper,” which Willie wrote back in 1963.
It was first made famous by Roy Orbison when it peaked at #15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Willie later recorded his own version of the song in 1964 and again in 1979 for his own Christmas album.
In the lyrics, Willie references a man selling “pretty paper, pretty ribbons” alone on the sidewalk, and as it turns out, there actually was a disabled street vendor Willie knew from his time as a radio DJ in Fort Worth who did just that.
Though he regrets never stopping to actually talk to the man whom he would walk by every single day on his way to work, the image of seeing him on the sidewalk always stuck out to Willie long after he moved from Texas to Nashville to pursue a career in country music.
He specifically remembered the man announcing, “Pretty paper! Pretty paper!”, to get the attention of people walking by, which is where the instantly recognizable title and lyrics came from. For many years, the man’s identity was a mystery, but in 2004, Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnists were finally able to identify the man who inspired such an iconic song. It’s really an incredible story, and you can read more about it HERE.
Willie sounds really good, and even at 93-years-old, he isn’t slowing down anytime soon. His new book “THE LAST LEAF: Reflections on Late-Life Creativity–and My Longest Love Affair,” is set for release on November 10th, which focuses on his love story with his wife, Annie, as well as his battle with COVID and some of the lessons he’s learned in his later years of life.
In addition, he’s been on tour this summer, and even put out a new album in Dream Chaser in May, and of his legacy and all of the life he’s lived, Willie is still choosing to be in the present, saying:
“Looking to the future as I look to the past. I stay in the present.”
I think that’s the perfect way to sum it up… and while I’m not even close to being ready to listen to Christmas music and all of that yet, I think I can make an exception for this song.
Coleman has such an incredible voice, a blend of gospel grit, country and vintage rock-and-roll, and of course, Willie is a legend, and he sounds great here. It’s fun to see the icons of the genre work with the next generation of stars, and you couldn’t pick two better artists within that vein to work together.
Willie also teamed up with the late, great Dolly Parton to reimagine “Pretty Paper” a few years ago, and it’s just a timeless, all-time great Christmas classic that never gets old.
You can listen to Willie and Brandon’s 2026 rendition here:
“Pretty Paper”
“Pretty Paper”
The version with Mrs. Dolly:
