That's No Stranger, It's Willie Nelson With Short Hair

By PopEater Staff Posted May 27th 2010 06:26AM

It's being called the "Haircut Heard Around the World," and for many fans it's a shock to the system: Willie Nelson. Cut. His. Hair.

The country legend has rocked his signature waist-long red hair -- usually in pigtails -- for decades, but while spending time in sunny Hawaii, Nelson decided it was time to chop it off. His rep, Elaine Schock, said Nelson took the plunge sometime in the past two weeks.

The 'On the Road Again' star is now sporting a bob. The first pictures of Willie 2.0 show him happily strumming along as he performs in Maui on May 22.

True to his laid-back persona, the 77-year-old Nelson isn't making a fuss over the change, only saying he had grown tired of dealing with the long locks.

Schock said, "There's a lot of maintenance."

It's hard to pinpoint exactly the last time Nelson had such short hair. In 1975, he had shoulder-length hair around the time his classic album, 'Red Headed Stranger,' was released.

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The Red Headed Stranger

Willie Nelson jams with his son Micah's band, The Reflectacles, on May 22 in Maui, Hawaii. Two things are missing in this photo: Willie's long hair (recently cut) and his beat-up old guitar, Trigger. Check Out More Pics of the Country Icon >>

Willie Nelson Snapshots

Legendary crooner Willie Nelson, center, performs with his son Micah Nelson's band, The Reflectacles, on Saturday, May 22, 2010 at Charley's in Maui, Hawaii. A spokeswoman said Nelson, who's been hanging loose in Hawaii, got his hair cut in the past couple of weeks. Micah Nelson is seen at right behind the drum kit. (AP Photo/Jessica Pearl) NO SALES

Willie Nelson Snapshots

Legendary crooner Willie Nelson, right, performs with his son Micah Nelson's band, The Reflectacles, on Saturday, May 22, 2010 at Charley's in Maui, Hawaii. A spokeswoman said Nelson, who's been hanging loose in Hawaii, got his hair cut in the past couple of weeks. (AP Photo/Jessica Pearl) NO SALES

Willie Nelson Snapshots

Legendary crooner Willie Nelson performs with his son Micah Nelson's band, The Reflectacles, on Saturday, May 22, 2010 at Charley's in Maui, Hawaii. A spokeswoman said Nelson, who's been hanging loose in Hawaii, got his hair cut in the past couple of weeks. (AP Photo/Jessica Pearl) NO SALES

Willie Nelson Snapshots

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2009 file photo, Country music artist Willie Nelson performs during the 57th Annual BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer, file)

Willie Nelson Snapshots

Musician Willie Nelson visits "Late Show With David Letterman" at the Ed Sullivan Theater on May 5, 2010 in New York City. Celebrity Arrivals At "Late Show With David Letterman" - May 5, 2010 Ed Sullivan Theater New York, NY United States May 5, 2010 Photo by Jeffrey Ufberg/WireImage.com To license this image (60364797), contact WireImage.com

Willie Nelson Snapshots

NEW YORK - MAY 05: Willie Nelson visits the ''Late Show With David Letterman'' at the Ed Sullivan Theater on May 5, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Donna Ward/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson Snapshots

In this CD cover image released by Rounder Records, Willie Nelson, "Country Music" is shown. (AP Photo/Rounder Records)

Willie Nelson Snapshots

Country music legend Willie Nelson is honored with the "Feed The Peace" award from the Nobelity Project at the Four Seasons Hotel on April 11, 2010 in Austin, Texas. Nobelity Project Dinner Honoring Willie Nelson Four Seasons Hotel Austin, TX United States April 11, 2010 Photo by Gary Miller/FilmMagic.com To license this image (60137006), contact FilmMagic.com

Willie Nelson Snapshots

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Comments

(141)

Thursday 27 May

By sleepyhead

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He looks like Ben Franklin.

By j

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Isnt he really keith richards dad ?

By Sin D

Willie could be bald and singing out of a paper bag and he would still sound better than %90 of todays turd balls slingin' their poo.

By SEB

Yes, now that you mention it, he DOES look like Ben Franklin. With hair like Willie's, I think he'll wish he had kept it below shoulder length so he could pull it back in a pony tail or braid it. The length he has it now is WAY more work than having it longer. I bet he lets it grow again. Besides the "Ben Franklin" look is just not attractive.

By Al Schrader

While I was receiving impromptu guitar advice in 1971 from a top 40 singer/ guitar player in Miami, he told this joke: A woman had two W's tattooed on the cheeks of her butt so when she bent over it said WoW. She went home & showed it to her husband. He said "I don't know about that but the one in the middle looks just like Willie Nelson"....Al-

By Chris

No! No, no, no, NO! Why, Willie? WHY?!

By Smiley

The man is 77 years old.
Why have to worry about the hair?
Look up his photo's from the 50's.
He had a crew cut.

By Wren

Someone has not done their research Willie Had short hair in the 90's I think when he donated his braids to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

By Ricardo

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Braids or brains?

By oldmev

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You are right, he cut it back then but it was left a little longer than this cut, about shoulder length and it was styled in a layered look. The real missed thing here is that it's been colored over. His hair is gray. He had some red color in the pony tail but that had grown years before. The hair closer to his head was/is gray. He should have went all the way to a business cut though, that dutch boy look isn't fitting someone of his stature and talent or even a dutch boy today.

Wednesday 14 July

By pat

I met Willie in 1973 and went to work for him. His hair was barely shoulder length at that time. He has continued to grow his hair since then.

By butchbuss00

its very plain to see hes not playing with a full deck , everytime you see him hes hi or spaced its not the same guy i loved to hear sing hes got to many hours on the road
I have seen enough of him last month on tv when he stated the 9-11 was an inside job from our goverment
guys nuts big time from another planet

By Chubsie-Ubsie

Now he looks like carrot tops grandmammie.

LOL!!!!! OH GOD then your screen name too "Chubsie-Ubsie" ROFL!

By Larry Crist

I used to date carrot tops mammy, so watch it :-)

By bill

I'm surprised the IRS let him keep as much of his hair as they did (shoulder length). They've pretty much otherwise stripped him bare.

By Maki Maus

I hope someone saved the hair he cut off. They could make a fortune selling it on e-bay.

By Donna

I love Willie,, he is one of a kind for sure.
Maki,, he gave his hair away, to help with the oil spill.
It should help,, that was a lot of hair he had.
Wllie can wear his hair any way he likes, hes still good ole Willie. He is loved here in Texas.

By Barbara

I loved the braids, but where are they? Are they going to be auctioned off for charity or sent to the Smithsonian? Surely they were NOT just thrown out!!!

By karen

Braid(s) and Trigger, too. Smithsonian should be glad to have them...Willie is what he is....GREAT !!!!!

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