Willie Nelson, American musician, actor and activist celebrates his birthday today and we thought, maybe we could take you on a thrilling little trail for a peek at some of his wildest moments, over the years. We all know him to be quite a legendary figure in the music industry, but there's a side to Mr. Nelson that not many are familiar with, and we're shining the spotlight on just that!

1. Recorded 'Red Headed Stranger' for $4000!

  • Arguably the greatest country song in history was recorded on a shoestring budget! Didn't expect that, did ya?
    Credit: Tom Hill / Contributor

2. Willie got into a gun fight in Alabama

  • Not only did he play a titular role in 'Barbarosa', Mr. Nelson also got into a real life gun fight in Alabama in the late 70s!
    Credit: Silver Screen Collection / Contributor

3. Willie survived a plane crash

  • Willie Nelson survived a plane crash and when asked about it he said, "Why, this was a perfect landing. I walked away from it, didn’t I?"
    Credit: Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images / Contributor

4. No pretense, no fluff here

  • Got arrested with pot in Texas and made no fuss at all. He took his sentence without throwing the typical defense of, "Do you know who I am?" around.
    Credit: Hulton Archive / Stringer

5. A Little Party Never Killed Nobody, But Did Cost Him A Bunch

  • Nelson threw marvellous Dripping Spring Reunions and 4th of July parties that cost him a bomb but never stopped him. Perhaps he's the modern Gatsby, eh?
    Credit: Rick Kern / Contributor

6. I am not a stranger. I am Willie Nelson. 

  • The man got lost in Baton Rogue on a trail. He saw a stranger's house and decided to go knock. His manager said, "You can't knock on a stranger's door." Willie said, "I am not a stranger. I am Willie Nelson." 
    credit: Kevork Djansezian / Stringer

7. Dennis Hopper is indebted to Willie, did you know?

  • Nelson barely knew Hollywood star, Dennis Hopper, but bailed him out of jail all the same in New Mexico. Wild, wild west indeed! Credit:
    Silver Screen Collection / Contributor

8. Farm Aid was co-founded by Willie

  • Did you know, Willie Nelson,
    Neil Young, and John Mellencamp co-founded the cornerstone American charity -- Farm Aid? This man just never stops surprising us, huh?
    Credit: Archie Carpenter / Stringer

9. Willie is a Fifth Degree Black Belt

  • He has been training in the art of Gong Kwon Yu Sul for the last 20 years! This totally proves that age truly is just a number.
    Credit: Rick Kern / Contributor

10. He has his own town in the USA!

  • Willie has his own little town! It was supposed to be called Willieville but well, luckily, it's not. Now, it's called Luck -- and it is in Texas! 
    Credit: Gary Miller / Contributor