Country music icon Willie Nelson getting fifth-degree black belt ahead of turning 81 this week

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Willie Nelson performs during the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame show on Saturday night April 26, 2014. Nelson, who will celebrate his 81st birthday next week by receiving his fifth-degree black belt in martial arts, was the first Austin City Limits performer in 1974 on what is now the longest-running television music program in the U.S. (AP Photo/Courtesy of KLRU, Scott Newton)

AUSTIN, Texas – The Red Headed Stranger is getting his fifth-degree black belt.

Country music icon Willie Nelson is scheduled Monday to achieve another level of mastery in the martial art of Gong Kwon Yu Sul. He’ll show off his fighting chops at an Austin studio before the easygoing songwriter celebrates his 81st birthday this week.

Nelson has spent decades practicing martial arts while building a career as one of the most celebrated musicians of his time.

The black belt is a quieter honour than usual for the lionized singer. Just this past weekend, Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey inducted his fellow Texan into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame with a blowout concert.

Nelson’s birthday is Wednesday — though he’s claimed before that the date is really April 29, a day earlier.

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