Tami Neilson: How a storm & road trip inspired Willie Nelson duet

A cancelled show, a tornado warning and a last-minute songwriting session on the road might not sound like the recipe for a country music collaboration, but that's exactly how New Zealand's Tami Neilson ended up recording a new duet with country legend Willie Nelson.

Speaking to iHeartCountry on release day, Tami shared the remarkable story behind Too Many Mamas, her playful response to Willie's classic hit Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys. As Tami explained, she's always loved the tradition of answer songs in country music, describing them as a long-standing part of the genre's history.

The idea came while Tami was touring with Willie and Bob Dylan on the Outlaw Tour last year. After a tornado tore through a venue in Missouri and forced the cancellation of a show, Tami and her team suddenly found themselves heading early to Willie's ranch in Texas, where she and her band had been invited to stay by Willie and his wife, Annie Nelson.

On the long drive to Texas, Tami and Kiwi tour manager Kate Wilson began developing an idea inspired by a conversation about the apparent lack of modern-day cowboys. Before long, the pair had written a response to Willie's famous song.

"When we arrived in Texas, I called up Willie's engineer, Steve Chadie, and said, 'I'd really love to just get this song down, demo it,'" Tami recalled. Learning that Willie would be in the studio a few days later sparked a new idea. Tami quickly rewrote part of the song and sent it through to Willie.

The answer came late that night.

"At about midnight we got a text saying he'll do it," Tami said. "Then we had to fall asleep after that. It was like a little kid falling asleep on Christmas Eve."

Recording with one of country music's most iconic figures was a surreal experience, but Tami says Willie's legendary work ethic remains just as impressive as his songwriting.

"He is honestly, he puts me to shame," she laughed. "He's such a road dog. His schedule makes me tired and I'm like, I have no excuse." Tami believes performing is what keeps Willie energised, adding that he gets "really restless" when he's not on the road.

Despite the song's tongue-in-cheek suggestion of a cowboy shortage, Tami says New Zealand isn't facing the same problem.

"Oh, I think we've got a lot of cowboys here, especially in the South Island," she joked. "We don't have a shortage."

Release day is only one stop in what's shaping up to be a huge month for the Kiwi star. Fresh from dates with Ashley McBryde, Tami was also preparing to take the stage at Nashville's legendary Grand Ole Opry.

"It's always magical and always nerve-wracking because you don't know who you're going to end up on stage with and who you're going to meet backstage," she said.

For now, Kiwi country fans can enjoy hearing Tami and Willie together on a song that was born from an unexpected twist of fate and one very memorable road trip.

Hear our full chat with Tami on our Essential Interviews podcast. Listen on iHeart or wherever you get your podcasts.

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