“I Basically Steal Everything From Willie”: Stephen Wilson Jr. Discusses How Willie Nelson Influenced Him as an Artist

Stephen Wilson Jr. released his debut album Son of Dad in 2023. Since then, he has been touring the country and catching the ears of fans and fellow artists alike. His unique vocal delivery paired with his sharp and unique songwriting has made him a fast favorite among fans of roots music. Recently, he talked about how Willie Nelson influenced him in every aspect of his career.

Nelson is regarded as one of the finest songwriters in country music history. At the same time, his voice is instantly recognizable. In short, there’s a reason he’s named among the legends of the genre. Wilson, and countless others, have learned many important lessons by listening to the Red-Headed Stranger’s music.

Recently, Wilson appeared on The Dan Patrick Show to play a few songs and talk about his life. During their conversation, he revealed the impact that Nelson had on him as an artist.

Stephen Wilson Jr. Discusses the Influence of Willie Nelson

Stephen Wilson Jr. took up his guitar to share “I’m a Song” with Dan Patrick and his audience. Looking at the beat-up acoustic, Patrick asked if it would hold together for one more song. “It might or might not,” Wilson said. “It’s held together by the bonds of masking tape and drawings,” he added.

Patrick mentioned Willie Nelson’s iconic guitar, Trigger. The old Martin looks like it barely survived a fight with a woodchipper. However, it still sounds great.

“Willie Nelson is my hero as a guitar player, singer, and songwriter. He’s the GOAT,” Wilson revealed. “So, I learned how to play a lot of guitar from him because he plays classical nylons—we call them gut strings—with a pick which is not very common. And he plays through an amp, not very common either. I basically steal everything from Willie,” he added. Wilson also plays a gut string guitar with a pick through an amplifier with some subtle effects.

“This guitar, because I play with a pick, it destroys it. These are meant to be played with your fingers and they’re designed to be played like that,” Wilson explained. “This just shovels away piles of sawdust on the floor after each show,” he said of his guitar pick.

However, the fact that he whittles down his guitar every time he plays it doesn’t bother him. “I literally leave my guitar behind every show. There are pieces of its DNA onstage every night. Personally, I like that better than preserving this guitar forever,” Wilson explained. “I think guitars are meant to be played not hung up on a wall and treasured. I think this is what this guitar is meant to be doing, just shredding itself onstage every night.”