Bobbie Nelson, sister of Willie Nelson, author, singer and musician has died. She was 91 years old.
Nelson wrote a short heartfelt statement on Instagram after her passing. He wrote, "Bobbie Nelson passed away this morning, peacefully and surrounded by family. Her elegance, grace, beauty and talent made this world a better place. She was the first member of Willie’s band, as his pianist and singer. Our hearts are broken and she will be deeply missed. But we are so lucky to have had her in our lives. Please keep her family in your thoughts and give them the privacy they need at this time."
In 2020, the Nelson's published a shared memoir titled Me and Sister Bobbie: True Tales of the Family Band which explored the untold story of their unbreakable bond, shared love of music and lives together after they were abandoned by their parents as toddlers and found peace in music through their grandparents who raised them in a small Texas town. In the book, Willie Nelson recounted how the spark for his creative awakening coincided when he brought Bobbie into the band in the early 1970s. He wrote, "If I was the sky, Sister Bobbie was the Earth. She grounded me. There is no longer or stronger or steadier relationship in my life.” Though she was older Willie Nelson always referred to her as his little sister on stage.
She joined Willie Nelson on the piano during his sessions with Atlantic Records, which produced The Troublemaker, Shotgun Willie and Phases and Stages. In 2017, Bobbie Nelson released her debut solo album Audiobiography, a collection of piano instrumentals. She continued to tour and make music with her brother for nearly 50 years.
See Willie Nelson's message regarding the death of his sister below:
