21 Facts About Bobbie Nelson

Bobbie Lee Nelson was an American pianist and singer, the elder sister of Willie Nelson, and a member of his band, Willie Nelson and Family.

Bobbie Nelson established a band called The Texans, which she and her brother joined.

Bobbie Nelson played in restaurants and different venues until she was called by her brother from New York in 1973 for a session.

Bobbie Nelson joined Willie Nelson on the piano during his sessions with Atlantic Records, that produced The Troublemaker, Shotgun Willie and Phases and Stages.

Bobbie Nelson's mother moved to Portland, Oregon, soon after her brother Willie was born in 1933.

Bobbie Nelson's father remarried and moved away, leaving them to be raised by their paternal grandparents.

Bobbie Nelson's grandmother started instructing her to play piano on a pump organ when Bobbie Nelson was five.

Bobbie Nelson began playing in functions at Abbott High School and in church with her brother.

At age sixteen, Bobbie Nelson met Bud Fletcher and they married.

Bobbie Nelson joined on the piano, while her brother sang and played guitar.

Bobbie Nelson lost custody of her sons Randy, Michael, and Freddy for playing in honky-tonks and custody was given to her ex-husband's parents.

When Fletcher died in a car accident in 1961, Bobbie Nelson suffered a breakdown and was admitted to a hospital in Fort Worth.

Bobbie Nelson began working for the Hammond Organ Company, demonstrating and selling their products.

Bobbie Nelson retrieved the custody of her sons and moved to Austin, Texas.

Bobbie Nelson played in different restaurants and other venues until her brother called her from New York in 1973, where he was recording with Atlantic Records.

Bobbie Nelson joined Willie on piano for the recordings, which eventually included the albums The Troublemaker, Shotgun Willie and Phases and Stages.

Bobbie Nelson joined Willie Nelson's newly formed band, The Family, full-time and started touring with him.

Bobbie Nelson released her solo debut album, Audiobiography, in 2008 Nine years later, she was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.

In 2020, Nelson co-authored with her brother and writer David Ritz the autobiography Me and Sister Bobbie: True Tales of the Family Band.

Bobbie Nelson played her last show with her brother on October 9,2021 in New Braunfels, Texas.

Bobbie Nelson died in Austin, Texas, on March 10,2022, at the age of 91.