Pot-smoking Willie Nelson auditions for Gandalf role in Hobbit 2 in spoof video as he celebrates 80th birthday

PUBLISHED: 15:29 EST, 30 April 2013 | UPDATED: 01:56 EST, 1 May 2013

Country star Willie Nelson celebrated his 80th birthday with a fake audition for the magical role of Gandalf in the next Hobbit film.

The On The Road Again singer hit the eight-decade mark on Monday and on the same day released his The Hobbit 2 audition reel on comedian Conan O'Brien's Team Coco YouTube channel.

The music legend and advocate for marijuana legalization included several pot references in the short video.

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Birthday boy: Willie Nelson celebrated turning 80 on Monday with a fake audition reel for the role of Gandalf in the next Hobbit movie

Cast me: Willie asked director Peter Jackson to cast him as wizard Gandalf instead of Sir Ian McKellen

Willie opened the video by telling Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit director Peter Jackson to cast him in the wizard role made famous on the big screen by Sir Ian McKellen.

With a black hat, dark cloak and walking stick in hand, Nelson opened his audition by saying, 'Hey, look at that dragon!'

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His Gandalf character then offered this sage advice: 'You shall not pass an unlit joint, man, that's just not cool.'

Watch the full audition reel here

Willie Nelson's The Hobbit 2 audition reel

Parental advisory: Willie and his son warned mothers not to let their children grow up to be Orcs, instead of cowboys

Patriotic plea: Willie made his pitch to play Gandalf with U.S. flags draped behind him

Wise wizard: Sir Ian McKellen has portrayed Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit

He was joined in the spoof reel by son Micah playing the role of Bilbo Baggins, the title character in J.R. Tolkien's 1937 novel The Hobbit.

After Micah's character said they're having a night to remember, Willie's smoking Gandalf replied, 'Or not' and started chuckling.

Willie's Gandalf also had unkind words for the demonic Balrogs, calling them 'ass*****.'

Funny guy: Willie, shown at a benefit concert on Sunday in Texas, sprinkled a few marijuana references in his short audition reel

He and his son altered the words slightly to a 1970s country classic and sang, 'Mama, don't let your babies grow up to be Orcs.'

'Be what?' Willie asked about the reference to the miserable creatures in Tolkien's fantasy world.

Willie ended his reel by telling Jackson 'to fire that Ian McKellen guy. He's a good actor, but hell, I'm Willie Nelson.'

McKellen responded on Monday with a Twitter message to Willie.

'Dear Willie, You are far too young to play Gandy.But nice try; have a stoner of a birthday. Love and admiration. Ian,' his tweet said.

Too young: McKellen tweeted that 80-year-old Willie wasn't old enough to play Gandalf and wished him a 'stoner of a birthday'

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Old Willie Nelson makes Keith Richards look like an embryo. Good luck to you Willie.

- maldwyn , Carmarthen, United Kingdom, 01/5/2013 19:20

Click to rate Rating 11

Hahaha!! Rock on, Willie!

- LoopsFroot , Mars, 01/5/2013 18:38

Click to rate Rating 12

I don't think Sir Ian has anything to worry about, though it's likely he couldn't sing like Willie either. Much admiration for both.

- Big Al , Huntsville, 01/5/2013 14:58

Click to rate Rating 27

THOU SHALT NOT UTTER WORDS DENIGRATING SIR WILLIE NELSON!!! Red arrows will be the least of your problems should you continue to make fun of the most cherished individual on the planet! Stand in awe, with respect and homage!

- Conk , Huntsville, 01/5/2013 14:38

Click to rate Rating 8

Gandolf? Hardly! I thought it was Witchy-poo.

- Ayla , Somewhere, 01/5/2013 14:20

Click to rate Rating (0)

Willie is a hoot!

- shelby , charlotte, United States, 01/5/2013 13:59

Click to rate Rating 22

You SHALL pass! The Dutchie 'pon the left hand side..

- gurrud , sunny watford, 01/5/2013 12:30

Click to rate Rating 28

merc in welshpool- Love me some Willie Nelson but, PLEASE! A pot-smoking old coot is hardly the image we want for a 'national treasure'- we have enough problems in this country.

- gobnait , this fresh hell, 01/5/2013 11:47

Click to rate Rating 42

Jimmy?

- big wobler , Somewhere, United Kingdom, 01/5/2013 08:49

Click to rate Rating 16

Willie Nelson at 80 smoking what the hell he wants. Well it's never stopped him before!! An American national treasure

- merc , welshpool, 01/5/2013 08:32

Click to rate Rating 97

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