NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Willie Nelson’s sister and colleague, Bobbie Nelson, has died. She was 91 years old.
Bobbie, pianist, singer and member of Willie Nelson & Family, died Thursday morning “peacefully and surrounded by family.”
“Her elegance, grace, beauty and talent made this world a better place. She was the first member of Willy’s band, as his pianist and singer. Our hearts are broken and we will miss her very much. her in our lives. Please keep her family in your thoughts and give them the privacy they need at this time,” Nelson’s family said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital.
Sesame Street star Emilio Delgado dies at 81
Bobbi has toured with her brother for over five decades. She was the first member of the Willie Nelson and Family Band as a pianist and singer.
The family noted that Bobby and Willy’s love for music came from their grandparents, who raised the siblings in Abbott, Texas.
“My grandfather told me when I was learning to play the piano: you know, if you really do it, one day you can make a living playing music,” Bobbie said earlier. “And I never forgot it.
As teenagers, the siblings joined Bud Fletcher, who later became Bobby’s husband. Fletcher later died in a car accident, forcing Bobby to raise their three sons as a single mother.
BOB SAGET’S WIFE KELLY RIZZO READING A COMEDIC TWO MONTHS AFTER HIS DEATH: “JOURNEY ENOUGH”
Bobby Nelson and Paul English of Willie Nelson And Family perform at the Classic Center on January 21, 2010 in Athens, Georgia. (Chris McKay)
At the time of her husband’s death, Bobbi had given up music to go to college in Fort Worth, Texas, which later led her to work in an office. While working for the Hammond Organ Company, Bobbi used her office skills to work in the company’s music library. She also performed as a pianist in Austin and Nashville.
She previously referred to her return to music as a “fabulous thing”.
“I was very happy to be able to sit down and just play with all my heart and soul,” she said.
She joined her brother Willie’s band in 1972 when he signed to Atlantic Records. She not only joined him on stage, but was also featured on his albums.
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FUN NEWSLETTER
Willie Nelson (left) and sister Bobbi Nelson perform at a New Year’s Eve concert at ACL Live December 31, 2014 in Austin, Texas. (Gary Miller)
Bobbi released her debut album Audiobiography in 2007. Two songs from the album featured Willie, now 88 years old.
She was featured on the album The Willie Nelson Family in 2021.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Bobby Nelson performs in concert with Willie Nelson during The Luck Banquet on March 13, 2019 in Luck, Texas. (Gary Miller)
Willie and Bobby have also written two books together, the 2020 memoir Me and Sister Bobby: True Stories of a Family Band, and the 2021 children’s book Sister, Brother, Family: An American Childhood in Music.