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 Mike

Vote down Vote up Report this

Looks like he lopped it off with a cleaver.

By Bonbon

It looks like a little pageboy!

By debra

I hope he donated his hair to help with the oil spill....

By Phil

Yes lots of work to keep long hair keep 420 willie you still rock love ya bro

Saturday 29 May

By lorraine j. cotton

did he donate that beautiful hair to LOCKS FOR TOTS or to any cancer org.

By shelly

Long hair or not he is a country legend!Earned the hard way, through working his butt off, Your hair don't make or break ya!

By Jim H

WILLIE USUALLY GETS A CUT ABOUT ONCE A YEAR. THERE ARE LOTS OF PICKS OF HIM WITHOUT THE BRAIDS.

By stephen

I'm thinking maybe he lost a barroom bet.

By cat woman

Willie Nelsom certainly looks dreadful.. all that partying must have really caught up with hhim

By deb

looks like Clara Belle the clown

By ed

Just saw him in Orange Beach with Dylan and John Cooger, (2 months ago), Ol' Willie seemed to want to be somewhere's else for sure. He butchered every song that made him famous. If it wasn't for the band keeping him propped up he woulda fell of the stage....

By gail

Willie doesn't have great hair to begin with but couldn't someone at least have attempted to "style" it??????

By terry

We love Willie in Jersey also. No matter how he cuts his hair. I bet it is easy to take care of. wish we could hear from him

By Joanna Casteel

I like Wille Nelson but he's just as ugly with long hair or short.

By Harold Canaday

WHY CAN'T THESE PEOPLE GET A DECENT HAIR CUT. ALL ROCK, POP AND COUNTY STARS LOOK LIKE CRAP IN THEIR STYLES!

By Barbara

Not to give away my age...but I saw Willie perform back in the 60's before the wrinkles, braids and pot. He had a "real man's" hair cut. He looked nothing like he does today.

By jaxii2005

It was time. Short hair is in right now.

By Ray

Well Willie, it might change the look, but not the sound and the long years of great music and songs you have written, that made so many others famous. It's a shame to see it go, but it is only hair. Personally, I'm keepin mine (although I did just have my daughter cut off about 10 inches of mine a few weeks ago)
Rock and roll on Willie.
it is amazing just what does make the news though.....

By Ruben

Willie looks like some old lady with that new hair cut. I think he would look much, much better with shorter hair. Those old dudes need to let go of the past. That fool they call Santana is a good example of needing to let go of the past. Hasbeens.

By joaquin

Somebody's still probably smoking that hair....

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