Rodney Crowell Reflects on Five Decades of Songwriting and Performs Music from His Latest Album

The Grammy-winning songwriter stops by LifeMinute to perform music from Airline Highway and reflect on five decades of writing songs for icons like Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and George Strait

From the LifeMinute.tv Team

February 17, 2026

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell has a career that spans more than 50 years, with 15 #1 hits on the country charts and songs written for legends Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and George Strait, as well as stars like Tim McGraw and Keith Urban.

Last year, Crowell released Airline Highway, following his Grammy-nominated album The Chicago Sessions—produced by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy—and contributed to Willie Nelson’s acclaimed Oh What a Beautiful World, which features fresh interpretations of 12 classic songs penned by Crowell, including a duet between the two legendary artists. 

Crowell’s influence stretches beyond country music. His songs have been interpreted by R&B icons like Etta James and rock legends including Van Morrison and Bob Seger. Beyond music, he has authored an acclaimed memoir, Chinaberry Sidewalks, and a lyrical retrospective, Word for Word. 

Recently, Rodney was inducted into the prestigious Texas Institute of Letters, joining literary giants such as Cormac McCarthy, Larry McMurtry, and Sandra Cisneros. 

The legendary songwriter stopped by the LifeMinute studios to reflect on his remarkable career and perform selections from his latest album.