Willie Nelson's braids are one of the most notorious hairstyles in music, and even in entertainment - among the most iconic looks that have ever seen the stage and television. And while it's amazing what a good set of hair can do to someone's face, in some cases what's more impressive is what they can do to someone's pocket - like Willie Nelson's braids, which were sold for an astounding $37,000 in a recent Arizona auction.
Last Sunday, there was an event in Arizona that was auctioning items owned by late musician Waylon Jennings, who was one of the most important musicians of the 1970s, along with Nelson. Among the items auctioned in the weekend event were Willie Nelson's braids, from back in the 80s when the singer's hair was still red: the braids were given to Jennings by Johnny Cash and wife June Carter back in the day, in a party they throw for him to celebrate his sobriety, according to Reuters.
Due to the rare nature of the item, Willie Nelson's braids were the most talked-about element going for auction in the event, but there were many other music history treasures going up for auction, notably Buddy Holly's motorcycle, an Ariel Cyclone that was sold for $450,000. Waylon Jennings became the owner of the bike years after Holly first purchased it in 1958, after members of Holly's band gave it to him as a present.
Buddy Holly was killed in an airplane accident in 1959, in a famous crash that also took the lives of J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson and La Bamba singer Ritchie Valens. Waylon Jennings was playing with Holly's band at the time of the crash, and he was supposed to ride on the plane, but instead he gave his seat to Richardson who was ill at the time and took the tour bus to the venue. The accident was later dubbed "The Day That Music Died," a title taken from Don McLean's song American Pie, which was inspired by it.
In any case, the auction featuring Willie Nelson's braids was a complete hit - and now, somewhere in the world, an undisclosed owner is happy to stare at their $37,000 worth of celebrity hair!
