Lukas Nelson Explains How He Overcame a Fear of Flying to Get His Pilot's License (Exclusive) Rachel DeSantisDecember 23, 2025 at 10:58 PM 0 Lukas Nelson/Instagram Lukas Nelson Lukas Nelson tells PEOPLE about how he overcome his fear of flying to become a pilot The star says he had "anxiety" around flying for a long time He says he flys all around Hawaii It's a bird, it's a plane, it's… quite possibly country star Lukas Nelson! For years, Nelson, 36, dealt with a fear of flying. But in April, the Grammywinning musician overcame those fears and got his pilot's license, he tells PEOPLE.
- - Lukas Nelson Explains How He Overcame a Fear of Flying to Get His Pilot's License (Exclusive)
Rachel DeSantisDecember 23, 2025 at 10:58 PM
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Lukas Nelson -
Lukas Nelson tells PEOPLE about how he overcome his fear of flying to become a pilot
The star says he had "anxiety" around flying for a long time
He says he flys all around Hawaii
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's… quite possibly country star Lukas Nelson!
For years, Nelson, 36, dealt with a fear of flying. But in April, the Grammy-winning musician overcame those fears and got his pilot's license, he tells PEOPLE.
"I had an anxiety [surrounding] flying when I was younger," he says. "So a part of me getting my license was to face that fear and overcome it. I think it's just a snowball effect of realizing that I want to do this for a long time."
Nelson, who stopped drinking and smoking weed about two years ago, continues, "I faced a lot of my fears, and realized they weren't that scary after all. Now I can be clear with myself and not want to run away from myself, which is great. I get high from making the right decision every time."
Nelson, the son of country legend Willie Nelson, says quitting weed specifically opened the door to getting his pilot's license, something he'd always "wanted to do," but never bothered trying, as weed and flying don't exactly mix.
Matthew Berinato
Lukas Nelson
"I got my pilot's license here in Maui, and I fly all around the islands," he explains. "Sometimes I'll fly on the mainland too."
In April, he shared more details of his flying journey to Instagram, explaining that he was unhappy before tapping into his true "potential." He quit smoking and drinking, and got in shape with the help of a trainer.
"In that new clarity, I learned to fly," he wrote. "I decided the best way to conquer my fear of flying was to learn how to do it myself. I don't know many pilots who are afraid to fly. And so I went to flight school. I faced my fear… 4 years ago I was afraid to fly, and now I am a Pilot."
Nelson is currently up for Best Traditional Country Album at the 2026 Grammy Awards — and so is his dad Willie, 92.
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"There's no rivalry at all. Me and him joined teams, so we got a 40 percent chance," he says. "A win for anyone in that group [is a win for me]."
He's up for his debut solo album American Romance, while Willie is nominated for his album Oh What a Beautiful World. Nelson's brother Micah, 35, earned a nod too, for producing their dad's album Last Leaf on the Tree, nominated for Best Americana Album.
"To be on the bill with Dad is such a special thing," Nelson says. "All three of us… I think that makes Dad real proud, and that makes me real happy."
He released a deluxe version of his album, American Romance, too, earlier this month.
on People
Source: "AOL Entertainment"
Source: Entertainment
Published: December 23, 2025 at 07:36PM on Source: ANDY MAG
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