Nelson, 93, encouraged followers to “fight against data centers invading our land” in a social media plea shared Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The country music legend<\/a> reflected on being able to see “stars at night” in his Texas hometown, but that light pollution and “water thieving” were imminent in a looming industrial climate.<\/p>\n KACEY MUSGRAVES ABRUPTLY CANCELS CONCERT DATES FROM ‘MIDDLE OF NOWHERE’ TOUR<\/a><\/p>\n Willie Nelson pleaded with his followers Tuesday to focus on the environmental impacts of data farming centers. (Peter Pakvis)<\/p>\n “I grew up in Abbott, and I still have a home there with farmed land where I can still see stars at night,” Nelson told his followers.<\/p>\n “And now our community, like many others, needs to fight against data centers invading our land.<\/p>\n SINGER ZACH TOP SLAMS MODERN COUNTRY MUSIC, SAYS IT LACKS ‘SOUL’<\/a><\/p>\n “The last thing we need is a loud, water thieving, light polluting, data center<\/a> anywhere near our town (or any others for that matter).”<\/p>\n The “On the Road Again” singer noted how “the strength of rural America has never come from big industrial footprints.”<\/p>\n “It comes from generations of people, open spaces, local businesses, and a connection to the land,” Nelson wrote. “All of America deserves thoughtful stewardship that doesn\u2019t steal farmland (where our essential shared-food is grown) and small family farmers\u2019 livelihoods, and not data centers that only destroy the environment<\/a> around them.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER<\/a><\/p>\n “Whoever controls food and water, controls the masses. Let\u2019s not allow our own demise or give up control over necessary resources in the U.S. and especially in Abbott.”<\/p>\n The legendary country singer reflected on the need for “thoughtful stewardship that doesn’t steal farmland.” (Rick Kern)<\/p>\n Nelson’s a longtime environmental advocate and has raised more than $90 million through his Farm Aid nonprofit, which he co-founded with John Mellencamp and Neil Young more than four decades ago.<\/p>\n The charity was first formed in 1985<\/a> to raise awareness about the loss of family farms and to raise funds to keep farm families on the land.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, Gov. Greg Abbott<\/a> called for a ban on data center developments in rural Texas.<\/p>\n LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS<\/a><\/p>\n “We must prohibit them from building AI data centers in rural Texas neighborhoods,” he said on a campaign stop in Bullard, according to The Texas Tribune<\/a>.<\/p>\n Willie Nelson has raised more than $90 million through his Farm Aid nonprofit, which he founded in 1985 with John Mellencamp and Neil Young. (Gary Miller)<\/p>\n “I made clear already: Any AI data center even thinking about coming here \u2014 they got to bring their own money, bring their own power, reuse their own water and do it in a way that reduces the cost of electricity for residents across our state.<\/p>\n![\"Willie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785353773_843_willie-nelson.jpg\")
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