With ‘Half Nelson,’ we went to Sundance and then we just bam, bam, bam, festival, festival, festival, festival and then we released in August.
It’s pretty well documented that Coach Nelson has had a big impact on my life.
Whenever I’d go anywhere with my dad – in his 1980 burgundy Dodge Ram – he’d always listen to mix tapes of country-music stars like Garth Brooks, Clint Black and Willie Nelson. Those were the first songs I ever learned the words to.
Always end your book with Nelson Mandela saying something about rainbows or renaissances. Because you care.
When Nelson Mandela walked free, the world sang with joy. Ever since, South Africa has stood as a beacon of hope for Africa.
I get mistaken for Jesy Nelson from Little Mix all the time.
But it was great, we sit in the same dressing room where, like, Johnny Cash sat and Willie Nelson and all those guys. That was in itself something amazing – I was on the same space these guys stood on, ya know?
We lived a lovely, middle-class, suburban life in Philadelphia. And I really thought that the TV programs of the ’50s, like ‘Father Knows Best’ and ‘The Adventures Of Ozzie And Harriet’ Nelson were documentaries filmed with hidden cameras in our neighborhood.
I like people who are minimalist with their words. Jack Nicholson thinks a lot then says something, and it’s always spot on. Nelson Mandela is the same.
In my view, it was no accident that Nelson Mandela was chosen by God to lead the people of South Africa. There are very few people who could be imprisoned, kept away from their family and loved ones, and exit that same prison with such a powerful spirit of love and a desire for reconciliation.
Nelson McCormack on ‘Killing Kennedy’ was really terrific because I wrote the script, and he had some terrific ideas. We went over the script together, and I was with him on set. So it was a collaborative effort.
I’ve always said I’ve wanted to be around forever. I never wanted to be the latest, greatest thing. I want to be like Willie Nelson – touring when I’m 70. To do that, you can’t be the latest, greatest thing because those things fizzle out.
When I was really little, I listened to Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Barbara Mandrel, Crystal Gayle, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, and Patsy Cline.
I was obsessed with Nelson Mandela. I had big posters of him in my bedroom and he became my proxy father figure. He was in jail, so I could project all sorts of things about what he would say to me.
But while Nelson Mandela’s work is sadly done, his dream is unfinished.
One of them would definitely be the Nelson Mandela gig, when I played the tribute song for him. He was up and dancing, and he really enjoyed it. It was a really lovely occasion.
I’m excited to fight in Abu Dhabi and to compete against Roy Nelson because he’s a dangerous opponent and demands a lot of respect and hard training to beat. He’s a knockout artist and really well-rounded, so you need to be well trained to fight someone like him.
