https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/screens/2013-04-30/willie-nelson-at-80-screen-testing-for-gandalf/

Willie Nelson at 80: Screen-Testing for Gandalf

By Marjorie Baumgarten, April 30, 2013, 1:15pm, Picture in Picture

"The smoke is white … we have a new wizard!" proclaims one of the ad-libs in this Willie Nelson screen test. Peter Jackson has it within his power to grant America's favorite octogenarian his fondest birthday wish: Cast aside that talentless hack Ian McKellen and install Nelson as the wizard Gandalf in The Hobbit 2.

Even if Willie's wish doesn't come true, join him in celebrating his 80th birthday today by reading Tim Stegall's wonderful profile in "On the Bus Again," and checking out this Gandalf audition reel below that was released by Team Coco.