Some years ago a studio executive predicted that moviegoers would never accept Willie Nelson as a hero because he looked too much like Gabby Hayes. Presumably this executive is now in charge of the popcorn concession. Nevertheless, this observation illustrates some of the many contradictions about Willie’s acting career. No matter what character he is asked to play, Willie nearly always manages to turn the character into Willie Nelson. And more to the point, Willie is larger than life precisely because he doesn’t try to be. Movie executives and critics—to say nothing of audiences—take Willie more seriously than he takes himself.