“I admire you, and I sincerely thank you for being the pioneer you are,” the musician wrote beneath a collection of photos
Beyoncé remembers what it was like when she first encountered Willie Nelson more than two decades ago. In a recent Instagram post, she recalled the experience, writing: “You were so kind to me and the girls of Destiny’s Child when we fanned out meeting you years ago.” That experience mirrored itself when their paths crossed again at Kamala Harris‘ rally in Houston over the weekend. “You greeted me with the same kindness 20 years later,” she said.
Nelson performed “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboy” at the event, while Beyoncé took the stage to publicly endorse Harris. Backstage, she caught up with the country icon, who she considers to be “One of our national treasures.”
“The Great Willie! You are the coolest,” Beyoncé said in the caption. “I admire you, and I sincerely thank you for being the pioneer you are. Thanks for your impactful music, your advocacy, and the gracious way you appreciate and celebrate other artists! You are 1 of 1.”
The honoring post features a carousel of photos, some of Beyoncé with Nelson and some of her posing in a signed red Willie Nelson bandana. She also threw in some shots of Nelson performing at the rally and paired the collection with a picture of her April 2024 Texas Monthly cover, in which she wears a white t-shirt with Nelson’s picture printed in the center.
Beyoncé was able to collaborate with Nelson on her country opus Cowboy Carter, which arrived earlier this year. He appeared on the interludes “Smoke Hour * Willie Nelson” and “Smoke Hour II” as the voice of KNTRY Radio Texas.
