VIDEO: Willie Nelson Shows His Most Famous Companion Some Love

Friendships come and go, but one thing has been a constant in Willie Nelson‘s life for decades: his connection to his guitar, Trigger. In July 2025, the country music legend took to TikTok with a video highlighting just how long Trigger has been part of his on-stage life. Surprisingly, the video’s images of Nelson playing the storied acoustic guitar go back as far as 1970 — that’s over five decades of concerts, events, and unforgettable music.

“I’ll always pick you, Trigger,” Nelson captioned the post. Fans in the comments section shared their love for the post. “The stories that guitar could tell if it could…” one wrote. Others reflected on some of their favorite Nelson memories, including how long they’ve been fans. “Willie Nelson is one of my true American heroes,” another netizen said. “He knows how to bring people together with music in a wonderful way.”

Nelson Bought Trigger After an Unexpected Accident

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Nelson and Trigger have become a legendary duo, but the singer may never have bought the guitar if not for a mishap in 1969. As Nelson explained in a Rolling Stone documentary about Trigger, his previous guitar broke during a show. Unfortunately, an inebriated concergoer fell into the guitar, giving Nelson no choice but to buy a new one.

Friend and fellow guitar player Shot Jackson suggested Nelson buy the guitar that became Trigger, and the rest is history. But why the name? “I named my guitar ‘Trigger’ because it’s kind of my horse,” Nelson explained. “Roy Rogers had a horse called ‘Trigger.'” However, this lifelong love affair almost ended before it started; Nelson’s home caught fire, which could have been the end of the guitar. Luckily, it was one of the few things he saved from the blaze. “I saved Trigger, so it was a good day,” Nelson said.

The Guitar Has Its Own ‘Doctor’

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Of course, an instrument doesn’t survive five decades of life on the road by sheer luck. Instead, Trigger has its own “doctor” to keep it in playable condition. Mark Erlewine, known as “The Trigger Doctor,” shared some details about his role in keeping this piece of music history alive during the documentary. “Very early on, Willie told me, ‘I want you to just keep it going. As long as it’s going, I’ll keep going.'”

One of the biggest signs of damage on the guitar is a massive hole, thanks to years and years of Nelson playing with a pick. “So the hole kept getting larger and larger,” Erlewine explained. “So I would put a piece of hardwood in there, and eventually, he would wear through the top and through the hardwood brace.” Nelson could have invested in more permanent fixes, but instead, his team is letting Trigger age gracefully. “All the scars are just part of it,” Erlewine said.

“I feel we’ll give out about the same time,” Nelson said of Trigger and his longevity. “We’re both pretty old, got a few scars here and there. But we still manage to make a sound every now and then.” That sound has become a truly unique part of country music’s legacy.