Bobbie Nelson (91), the older sister of country music legend Willie Nelson, has sadly passed away, her family confirmed.
In a statement posted to her brother’s official Facebook account Thursday, relatives said the elder Nelson “passed away this morning, peacefully and surrounded by family.”
“Her elegance, grace, beauty and talent made this world a better place,” the statement read. “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.”
It wasn’t immediately clear what caused her death.
According to Variety and Billboard, Bobbie Nelson, who grew up in Texas, officially joined her brother’s band in the early 1970s. The siblings, who played together professionally for half a century, marked their final performance together Oct. 9 in New Braunfels, Texas, Variety reported. She also released her own album, “Audiobiography,” in 2017.
The pair not only collaborated on music but also books, including “Me and Sister Bobbie: True Tales of the Family Band” (2020) and “Sister, Brother, Family: An American Childhood in Music” (2021), according to Billboard.
