Young Clean-Shaven Willie Nelson Performs 'Making Believe' On 'The Ernest Tubb Show'

Jul 14, 2020

The entire world came to know Willie Nelson as an outlaw of country music. For decades, his appearance was always a scruffy beard, and long braids with either a bandana or a cowboy hat. Only long time fans would remember him as young, short-haired, and clean-shaven.

In the '50s, when Willie Nelson started his journey in the music industry, he was unrecognizable to what he looked like today when he appeared on The Ernest Tubb Show to perform a cover hit Making Believe. It was a song written, recorded, and released by Jimmy Work in 1955.

There were several times Willie Nelson appeared on The Ernest Tubb Show, and he was considered a regular. To those who know Willie as the outlaw, they are in for a treat when they see how young and clean-cut he is. A video has surfaced online with a performance from the Red Headed Stranger.

As Nelson performed Making Believe that night, in front of a live studio audience, Kitty Wells had a version she cut in the same year. Wells' version went on to reach number two on the charts. Nelson wrote many songs and performed his music in front of crowds, but this was one of the few times, he sang a cover song, especially on television.

Nelson and Wells were not the only ones to make the song famous. Throughout the years, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, and Dolly Parton sang their versions of the song. One can only say, it was a good country and western song, and people and artists both liked it. One version stood out from the rest when Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn sang the song as a duet.

It was hard to figure out which was more unique, Willie Nelson singing a song other than his own or how clean-cut he was. He was even wearing a suit to perform. Boy, have the times changed!!! And so has Willie Nelson!!

The song Making Believe is about a person who longs for someone they loved a long time ago. It goes on to explain the two lovers are not together anymore as it goes, "Making believe that you still love me. It’s leaving me alone and so blue."

What makes country music so great when these lyrics pop up is that we have all felt heartbreak at some time or other. We can relate to the song when any artist plays it. Nelson put the song on his fourth studio album. The album was called, Country Favorites–Willie Nelson Style. Since he played the song on The Ernest Tubb Show, most people do not realize Tubb's band, The Texas Troubadours, was on the recording Willie Nelson cut. He felt it only fitted for him to play the song on Tubb's show.

As we can see in the video, Willie Nelson looked completely different from his current appearance today. It does not matter how he looks from back then to now; his distinctive voice never changed. Nelson was genuinely unique when it came to his songs and vocals. Nelson mastered what it took to become a sensational artist by putting his full emotion into every song he sang. When he performed Making Believe, the heartache showed through the lyrics.

Even back in the fifties, Nelson was a star. He sang his style of outlaw country music from an early age. By the time he made regular appearances on The Ernest Tubb Show, he was already made famous. As you watch the video, listen for his sincerity in the singing. Then send your comments and thoughts, and help spread the music!