Soulful singer-songwriter Tami Neilson joined forces with Willie Nelson for their moving new song “Beyond the Stars.” The track is the first single from Neilson’s upcoming record Kingmaker, which is set for release on July 15.
“Beyond the Stars” taps into the painful feelings of longing to be with the one you’ve lost. Neilson and Nelson’s vocals blend beautifully on the emotional and poetic song, anchored by a soaring string section. The track was penned by Neilson while grieving the loss of her father, as she found herself wishing to be with him again. The pair debuted the song live during Luck Reunion 2022, a music festival held at Nelson’s ranch in March. The surprise performance was especially emotional, coming just days after the death of Nelson’s beloved sister and bandmate, Bobbie.
“This song was written about the loss of my Dad, but with the loss of Willie’s beloved sister Bobbie the week before Luck Reunion, it took on even more meaning to perform it with Willie, and I really wanted to honor her as well,” Neilson said in a statement.
“Having Willie be the voice of my father in this duet is just something beyond my wildest dreams,” Neilson said in a statement. “I cried for three days after it was recorded, listening to it and thinking about how absolutely overwhelmed and proud my Dad, a musician and a huge Willie Nelson fan, would have been.”
Watch the official music video for “Beyond the Stars,” which was filmed at Nelson’s ranch in Luck, Texas, below.
Kingmaker, Neilson’s fifth studio album, will thematically follow in the footsteps of her critically acclaimed 2020 record CHICKABOOM! A vocal advocate for equality and inclusion in country music, Neilson will once again take on the patriarchal structures within the music industry and society as a whole through her music. Additional details about Kingmaker are expected to be released in the coming weeks. Until then, you can keep up with Neilson and learn more about her music by visiting her official website.
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