Yahoo News Willie Nelson Docuseries Gets Pre-Christmas Bow on Paramount+ (Exclusive)
Willie Nelson & Family, a documentary series about the country music icon from filmmakers Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman, is set to bow on Paramount+ on Dec. 21.
The career retrospective is creatively driven by directors Zimny and Moverman, both recent Emmy winners — Zimny for directing the variety special Springsteen on Broadway and Moverman for the TV movie Bad Education, starring Hugh Jackman.
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Paramount+ acquired the documentary series, which recalls Nelson’s life and long career as an iconic country music singer-songwriter, after its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Nelson participated in the production and allowed Zimny — a frequent Bruce Springsteen collaborator — and Moverman access to his archives.
The four-parter is executive produced by Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan and is a production of MTV Entertainment Studios, in association with 101 Studios, Blackbird Presents Films and Sight Unseen. “Willie’s music formed the soundtrack of my youth. His songwriting helped shape me as a storyteller…. Willie has opened his life to us — warts and all — to serve as a beacon to overcoming failure, realizing dreams, and keeping your compass once the dream is achieved,” Sheridan told THR in a statement.
Nelson, 90, has had a seven-decade career as an American outlaw cowboy who rose from humble beginnings in small-town Abbott, Texas, to speak directly through lyrics and melodies to a global fan base. The project was developed by longtime Nelson manager Mark Rothbaum and frequent collaborator Keith Wortman of Blackburn Presents.
Directors Zimny and Moverman also executive produced Willie Nelson & Family, which was filmed across the U.S. as it traces the country music star’s personal and career ups and downs and in-betweens. The docuseries features appearances by Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, Kenny Chesney, Sheryl Crow, Rosanne Cash and others in praise of the beloved performer and songwriter.
The founder of Farm Aid has more than 200 recordings, with albums including Shotgun Willie, Red Headed Stranger and Stardust, and he has written country music standards like “Crazy,” “Hello Walls” and “Funny How Time Slips Away.”
Other executive producers include Wortman, Rothbaum, Julia Lebedev, Eddie Vaisman, David C. Glasser, David Hutkin, Rom Burkle, Bob Yari, Annie D’Angelo-Nelson, Leonid Lebedev, Mark Ankner and Sean Stewart.
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