Legendary American singer, songwriter, and guitarist Willie Nelson has led one of the most successful careers in country music history. He overcame poverty in Abbott, Texas before rising to fame in 1962 after signing his first record deal and releasing some of his earliest records, “Touch Me” and “Willingly,” both of which cracked country’s Top 10 chart. But behind the scenes, he was grappling with a tragic life that saw a string of devastating losses and difficulties.

Decades into his career, Nelson lost his mother, Myrle M. Harvey, to cancer in December 1983. Seven years later, he suffered a shocking financial crisis when the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) seized his assets due to unpaid taxes. This led him to lose many of his possessions, including his beloved ranch, recording studio, and many of his instruments, which were all taken to satisfy a $32 million unpaid tax debt. This left the star forced to rebuild his life, but not without further tragedy plaguing him along the way.