Willie Nelson in 2013 (cover photo by Gary Miller)
Who s a bestselling author, weed entrepreneur, martial arts black belt, and now a SXSW Online 2021 keynote speaker? Willie Nelson, that s who (oh, yeah, and he may have written a tune or two).
The Red Headed Stranger is usually pretty busy during South By, but with his annual anti-festival the Luck Reunion on hold for another year, Shotgun Willie is getting on the digital road again as one of the headliners for SXSW s 2021 digital conference – a rare appearance, and his first since his pop-up set Spotify House in 2016.
Of course the festival seems giddy for his words. “No individual has had the cultural impact on, or been more synonymous with the creative vibrancy of Austin than Willie Nelson, and we are incredibly honored to have him as a SXSW Online 2021 Keynote,” said Hugh Forrest, Chief Programming Officer.
Introducing the first programming announcement for
SXSW Online 2021, an exclusive digital experience packed with powerful presentations from some of the world’s most inspired thinkers and diverse visionaries from the ever-evolving worlds of tech, film, music, and beyond.
“Spanning numerous industries, the Featured Speakers in today’s announcement strongly reflect the programming themes that will underscore our upcoming event,” said
Hugh Forrest, Chief Programming Officer. “As always, SXSW brings together the world’s most important thought leaders to address society’s most important challenges.”
From creating postcards for democracy to combating climate change with aquaculture, the initial Conference lineup explores our 2021 Themes including A New Urgency – a look at how business, non-profit, government, science, and tech communities are tackling global crises and what advancements are needed to create immediate and lasting progress. Dive into programming acros