A story Willie Nelson shared decades ago was once treated with plenty of skepticism. But in 2020, a documentary about former President Jimmy Carter helped confirm that the legendary country singer’s unbelievable White House story was, in fact, true.
Willie Nelson has long been open about his love of cannabis. He even launched his own cannabis brand, Willie’s Reserve, and has spoken publicly about his longtime relationship with marijuana. So when Nelson revealed in his 1988 autobiography that he had smoked marijuana on the roof of the White House, some people understandably wondered whether the story was actually true.
Willie Nelson’s White House Roof Story
In his 1988 book, Willie: An Autobiography, Nelson described sitting on the roof of the White House late at night with a beer in one hand and what he called an “Austin Torpedo” in the other.
He recalled looking out over Washington, D.C., while his companion pointed out the city’s streets and landmarks. Nelson then described enjoying the marijuana and joked that the White House roof might be the safest place to smoke.
Years later, Nelson was asked about the story during an interview on his tour bus. When a CNN reporter asked whether he had really rolled a joint on the White House roof during Jimmy Carter’s presidency, Willie gave a typically humorous response.
“Well, I rolled it before I got up there.”
When asked whether he was afraid of getting caught, Nelson simply replied, “I should have been!”
Jimmy Carter Confirmed the Story
For years, the story remained one of Willie’s most famous—and unbelievable—tales. Then came an unexpected confirmation from the man who was president when it supposedly happened.
In the 2020 documentary Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President, Carter confirmed that Nelson’s story was true. He also revealed a detail Willie had kept vague for years: the identity of the person who accompanied him onto the roof.
Carter explained that Nelson had written that his companion was one of the White House servants, but according to Carter, that wasn’t quite right—it was actually one of his sons.
That son was Chip Carter, who was 28 at the time.
Nelson had been invited to the White House as he prepared to perform on the lawn, including a duet with First Lady Rosalynn Carter. Later that night, according to the story, Willie made his way onto the roof with Chip, where the two shared a marijuana smoke.
The documentary, Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President, was released on September 9, 2020. It explored Carter’s relationship with music and the important role music played throughout his political career and personal life.
The confirmation added another fascinating chapter to one of Willie Nelson’s most legendary stories—and gave fans an answer to a mystery that had lasted for decades.
Nelson and Carter remained friends for many years. Carter died at the age of 100 on December 29, 2024.