Willie Nelson [ tickets ] will head west in January as the veteran performer's never-ending tour wheels its way into 2009.

The country icon sports an early year schedule stuffed with California shows, including a five-night engagement at San Francisco's Fillmore running Jan. 16-20. Pre-sales for most of the newly added dates begin today (11/14). Consult Nelson's official website for up-to-the-minute information.

Nelson will get back on the road next week for a final push before the holiday season, kicking off Nov. 21 in Jonesboro, AR, one of 13 cities the Red-Headed Stranger will hit before the clock strikes midnight on 2008. Details are included below.

The inexhaustible performer continues to issue a steady stream of recorded product, the latest being a live collaboration with jazz virtuoso Wynton Marsalis. "Two Men With the Blues," which topped Billboard's jazz albums chart in July, was recorded last year during a two-night stand at New York City's Jazz at Lincoln Center and features well-known offerings including "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It," "Ain't Nobody's Business," "Caldonia" and "Stardust."

Nelson has also charted a pair of hits packages this year, as well as his most recent solo studio effort, January's "Moment of Forever." The Kenny Chesney-produced album features a few Nelson originals and a couple of Chesney-penned tracks alongside interpretations of songs by Kris Kristofferson, Bob Dylan, Randy Newman and others. The video for the album's first single, "Gravedigger," is streaming at Nelson's website.

Nelson, who has seemingly put renewed emphasis on his acting career in recent years, made five feature film appearances this year alone, including in Toby Keith's "Beer For My Horses" and the Kevin Costner vehicle "Swing Vote." He also recently agreed to star in Stereo Vision's 3D Wild West ghost story, "Secrets of the Lost San Sabas," playing an "Indian guide to afterlife on a 300-year quest for justice," according to a press release.

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