Willie Nelson honors his late friend Merle Haggard with his new album Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle, which launches at No. 1 on one chart in the U.K. TOPSHOT – US musician Willie Nelson performs during the Farm Aid Music Festival at the Ruoff Music Center on September 23, 2023 in Noblesville, Indiana. (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP) (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
At the age of 92, Willie Nelson seems to be as productive and prolific as at any point in his career. In fact, the country superstar may be working harder than he ever has, writing and recording more music with the world than most musical artists who are only a third his age.
The powerhouse musician, who recently racked up several new Grammy nominations, claims a brand new No. 1 album in the United Kingdom as Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle becomes a quick bestseller on a roster Nelson has dominated multiple times throughout his legendary career.
Willie Nelson’s Working Man Debuts at No. 1
Workin’ Man launches atop one tally in the U.K., the Official Country Artists Albums chart. Last week’s winner, The Consequence of Love by Rianne Downie, dips to No. 5. Nelson is powerful enough to block Taylor Swift’s self-titled debut, which currently lives in the runner-up space, from returning to the summit.
Willie Nelson’s No. 1s on the U.K. Country Albums Chart
Willie Nelson, U.S. country music singer-songwriter, during a concert performance, circa 1975. (Photo by David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images)
Redferns
Nelson scores his ninth No. 1 on the Official Country Artists Albums chart, which highlights the top-selling full-lengths and EPs specifically by musicians usually associated with the country genre. He keeps his winning streak going, as his two prior projects, Last Leaf on the Tree and Oh, What a Beautiful World, also made it to No. 1.
Here is a list of all of Nelson’s champions on the Official Country Artists Albums tally:
- Spirit
- Heroes
- To All the Girls
- Ride Me Back Home
- First Rose of Spring
- That’s Life
- Last Leaf on the Tree
- Oh What a Beautiful World
- Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle
Willie Nelson’s Chart Milestones
Workin’ Man also helps Nelson reach a landmark number of appearances inside the top 10. The tribute to Merle Haggard marks his thirty-fifth trip to the highest region on the Official Country Artists Albums ranking and his forty-second overall placement.
Willie Nelson’s New Americana Success
The Official Charts Company has classified Workin’ Man as both country and Americana, which allows it to debut on two tallies. As it leads the Official Country Artists Albums ranking, the newly-delivered effort also starts at No. 22 on the Official Americana chart.
Nelson scores his sixteenth hit on that list and his second of 2025. Oh, What a Beautiful World arrived in May and missed out on the top 10 by just a single spot.
Willie Nelson’s Two Bestsellers on One Chart
As Workin’ Man launches on two rosters in the U.K., Nelson fills a pair of spaces on another closely-related list. Both Greatest Hits and Legend – The Best Of find space on the Official Country Compilations tally. Those former rulers settle at Nos. 9 and 15, respectively, this frame.
Workin’ Man Celebrates Nelson’s History With Merle Haggard
AUSTIN, TEXAS – JULY 04: Merle Haggard (R) performs with Willie Nelson during Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic at the Spicewood Springs Amphitheater on July 4, 2003 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Workin’ Man is Nelson’s seventy-eighth solo album. The project features 11 covers of some of Haggard’s best and most beloved songs. Nelson and Haggard enjoyed a decades-long friendship and even a working relationship, as they recorded and released four albums together.
Willie Nelson Earns New Grammy Nominations
In addition to landing a new No. 1 release, Nelson has several other reasons to celebrate. When the nominees for the 2026 Grammy Awards were rolled out, the country legend’s name appeared twice. He is currently in the running for both Best Americana Album and Best Traditional Country Album for Last Leaf on the Tree and Oh, What a Beautiful World, respectively. In the Best Traditional Country Album vertical, the elder Nelson is up against his own son, Lukas, whose American Romance is also a potential winner.
The two Nelsons are among five musicians – the others being Charley Crockett, Margo Price and Zach Top – who inaugurate the category. After Beyoncé claimed the Best Country Album honor earlier in 2025 with her boundary-pushing Cowboy Carter (which would also go on to score the long-overdue Album of the Year prize), the Recording Academy opted to split the vertical into one recognizing newer works and another that looks at more “traditional” country sounds.