Two months before the 1980 election, Jimmy Carter took a helicopter to see Willie Nelson play a show at Merriwether Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md. There, he joined Nelson onstage for a rendition of "Amazing Grace." That year, Nelson had thrown his celebrity status behind Carter to oppose Ronald Reagan. It's also worth noting that this was the same year Nelson said he smoked a joint on the roof of the White House. Since then, Nelson has backed nearly every major Democratic candidate from Bill Clinton to Barack Obama to Hillary Clinton—he even wrote an anti-Trump song last year. He's famously supported the environment, same-sex marriage and, obviously, marijuana legalization.

So, it should come as absolutely no surprise—for a musician who has been deeply involved in national and Texas politics—that Nelson has endorsed Beto O'Rourke in his bid for Ted Cruz's Senate seat.

After inviting O'Rourke on stage during his 4th of July picnic this summer, Nelson will headline a free rally in support of O'Rourke on September 29 in Austin.

But surprisingly, despite his decades-long history of supporting Democrats, Nelson fans have been outraged over his backing of O'Rourke. They've taken to social media to denounce the country star—citing his involvement in this high profile senate race.

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Someone buy my Willie Nelson ticket for Friday, November 16. I am no longer willing to watch that hippie guitarist who supports that damn socialist running for Senate. — Dakota Boll (@BollDakota) September 13, 2018

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Why Willie, why?! https://t.co/3lpP1VqgMt — Chicks On The Right (@chicksonright) September 13, 2018

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Too bad, I used to like #WillieNelson. — JustKen AKA Chuck (@FuriousFarmBoy) September 13, 2018

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Seriously......THATS DISGUSTING I geuss Willie spent to much time in California...Anyone who cannot See this is all promoted by Cartel money is a Fool......True Austnites have Supported you Willie why would you LOWER yourself to this...SHAME ON YOU..this will Damage FARM AIDE — Cyn Sim (@fullhousetx) September 13, 2018

In fact, it's outrage that Nelson finds pretty funny.

“I’ve been supporting Democrats all my life… I haven't hidden it that much,” Nelson said with a chuckle on The View yesterday. “Everybody has an opinion. Everybody has a right to an opinion. I think I have one too.”

Nelson added that he doesn't care if Trump supporters like him.

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This week, Nelson's son Lukas Nelson also released a statement supporting his father along with O'Rourke:

“My father has always led with his heart – in his life and his music, he’s put his energy toward building a heart-based family and community with music as a cultural glue. The issues that are important to him have less to do with himself and what’s good for him and more to do with what’s good for the community. Republican or Democrat, he’s always stood for the candidate that best represented his values which include love for thy neighbor no matter what color or nationality, responsibility with firearms – including some regulation to prevent unnecessary violence – and health care that isn’t owned by private companies who put your health below their profit.”

If anything, maybe this support from the Nelson family is working, because a poll from Reuters released Wednesday reports that O'Rourke currently has a 2 percent lead over Cruz among likely voters in the state.

Ted Cruz, on the other hand, stopped listening to rock music after 9/11, as one does.

Matt Miller Culture Editor Matt is the Culture Editor at Esquire where he covers music, movies, books, and TV—with an emphasis on all things Star Wars, Marvel, and Game of Thrones.

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