Willie Nelson, the country superstar whose hits include “Crazy” and “On the Road Again,” will perform at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez on Thursday night.

Nelson was forced to choose between the church and secular music when he lived in his native Texas. So he packed up his belongings and moved to Nashville, where he initially became a songwriter for other artists. While country singer Pasty Cline didn’t initially like his song “Crazy,” it went on to become her biggest hit.

Nelson became a popular performer himself with hits like “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” and “Good Hearted Woman.” His road-worn classical acoustic guitar, named Trigger, is a symbol of his long career.

A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Nelson has won six Grammy awards.

Tickets for the show, which begins at 8 p.m., range from $75 to $135.

Nelson is one of a string of acts booked at the Chumash this spring. Others include the Doobie Brothers (April 19), the Go-Go’s (May 3) and comic Wanda Sykes (May 17).