Willie Nelson has a fight on his hands, and he’s urging others to join him.
The legendary musician is standing up for his beloved Texas hometown and is speaking out against building AI data centers nearby.
In a lengthy post on Instagram, Willie, 93, made a heartfelt plea to protect Abbott, Texas, where he grew up and still has a home and farmland.
© InstagramWillie’s lengthy post about the building of AI data centers
“To whom it may concern and to everyone else as well,” he captioned the post.
“I grew up in Abbott, and I still have a home there with farmed land where I can still see stars at night,” Willie continued. “And now our community, like many others, needs to fight against data centers invading our land.”
Willie says the centers are ‘water thieving’ and ‘light polluting’
© Getty ImagesHe’s an outspoken activist
His post comes amid the proposed development of at least 56 data centers in the Central Texas region.
Willie wrote: “The last thing we need is a loud, water thieving, light polluting, data center anywhere near our town (or any others for that matter).”
He paid tribute to the “strength of rural America,” and said it’s success has come from “generations of people, open spaces, local business, and connection to the land.”
Willie and his wife still own a home and farmland in Abbott
Willie insists that preservation is the top priority as he continued: “All of America deserves thoughtful stewardship that doesn’t steal farmland (where our essential shared-food is grown) and small family farmers’ livelihoods, and not data centers that only destroy the environment around them. Whoever controls food and water, controls the masses.”
He concluded his post by writing: “Let’s not allow our own demise or give up control over necessary resources in the U.S. and especially in Abbott.”
Willie is known for his musical career but also for his activism
© Getty ImagesWillie in his youth
His words were met with applause and his fans commended his stance.
Willie has been an advocate for family-owned farms for decades. He even founded the Farm Aid festival designed to help those farms.
The outspoken activist has used his voice and platform for many causes over the years.
At 93, he says he’s still fighting fit and joked to The New Yorker: “Woke up again this morning, so that’s good.”