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In 2005 Nelson and his family hosted the first annual "Willie Nelson & NORML Benefit Golf Tournament", leading to a cover appearance and inside interview in the January 2008 issue of High Times magazine. [118] Other movies that Nelson acted in include Wag the Dog, Gone Fishin' (as Billy 'Catch' Pooler), the 1986 television movie Stagecoach (with Johnny Cash), Half Baked, Beerfest, The Dukes of Hazzard, Surfer, Dude and Swing Vote. Cochran heard Nelson during a jam session with Buddy Emmons and Jimmy Day. "Willie Nelson & Family" features both archival footage and new interviews with Nelson, his late sister Bobbie, and many other fellow musicians and friends. The pilot was aired first on those stations, later being released nationwide. Most of the material was collected by Nelson's friend Bill Wittliff, who wrote or co-wrote Honeysuckle Rose, Barbarosa and Red Headed Stranger. Billy was found dead in his log-cabin home in Davidson County, Tennessee on Christmas Day. After mid-chart hits in the late 1960s and the early 1970s, Nelson grew weary of the corporate Nashville music scene, and in 1972 he moved to Austin, Texas. [44], Nelson moved to Austin, Texas, where the burgeoning hippie music scene (see Armadillo World Headquarters) rejuvenated the singer. Amini-documentary released in October 2017 called Willie Nelson and the Boysfeatures the brothersdiscussing their family dynamic and the influence of their father. [74] In 1985, Nelson had another success with Half Nelson, a compilation album of duets with a range of artists such as Ray Charles and Neil Young. [182] After repeated instances of pneumonia and emphysema through the years, Nelson underwent stem-cell therapy in 2015 to improve the state of his lungs. [227] In 2013, he received an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music. In 1975, he switched to Columbia Records, where he recorded the critically acclaimed album Red Headed Stranger. Owing to the tremendous success of his albums 'Shotgun Willie' and 'Red Headed Stranger,' Willie became one of the most influential names in the history of American country music. [30] "Family Bible" turned into a hit for Claude Gray in 1960. [2] While still at school, he sang and played guitar in The Texans, a band formed by his sister's husband, Bud Fletcher. [156] He recorded a radio advertisement asking for support to put musician/author Kinky Friedman on the ballot as an independent candidate for the 2006 Texas gubernatorial election. In 2007, Nelson forfeited six million shares of the company as he left the board. For 2021, he released a new studio album in February . [10] During the summer, the family picked cotton alongside other Abbott residents. Amy is part of the Texas musical group with Cathy Guthrie called Folk Uke, has released two albums, and can often be seen singing with her father on stage. Later that night Dick played the tape for Cline, who decided to record it. According to Wide Open Country, he was Coopers voice coach and helped co-write many of the songs in the movie. [56], As Jennings was also achieving success in country music in the early 1970s, the pair were combined into a genre called outlaw country, since it did not conform to Nashville standards. [52] The same year, he produced and starred in the pilot episode of PBS' Austin City Limits. Due to this success, Nelson signed in 1964 with RCA Victor and joined the Grand Ole Opry the following year. Despite the failure to reach the expected attendance, the concept of the festival inspired Nelson to create the Fourth of July Picnic, his own annual event, starting the following year. [202], In 1990, the IRS seized most of Nelson's assets, claiming that he owed $32million. economy. But it wasn't until 1986 that Nelson met his true love, Annie D'Angelo. Micah and Lukas, Nelsons two youngest children with wife Annie DAngelo, both toured with their father and have sang on stage with him on several occasions, which they credit as their inspiration to pursue their own music careers, according to Country Fancast. [102], In 2018, Nelson sang a song written by Daniel Lanois called "Cruel World" for the soundtrack of Rockstar Games's action-adventure video game Red Dead Redemption 2. Bobbie Nelson, an original member of her younger brother . Willie Nelson was born in Abbott, Texas, on April 29, 1933. [98] The album entered Billboard's Top Country Albums at number two, marking his highest position on the chart since the release of his 1989 A Horse Called Music, and extending his record to a total of forty-six top ten albums on the country charts. [34] Its soundboard has been signed by over a hundred of Nelson's friends and associates, ranging from fellow musicians to lawyers and football coaches. He was released after paying bail of $2,500. Father-daughter duo Paula Nelson and Willie Nelson Re-record "Slow Down Old World" All Rights Reserved. [11] Nelson disliked picking cotton, so he earned money by singing in dance halls, taverns, and honky tonks from age 13, which he continued through high school. [65] Nelson continued to top the charts with hit songs during the late 1970s, including "Good Hearted Woman", "Remember Me",[66] "If You've Got the Money I've Got the Time", and "Uncloudy Day". Nelson was ultimately able to record the song in time in Los Angeles;[104] the team considered combining the two versions into a duet, but ultimately included both versions in the game. Performance. [168] The marriage was marked by violence, with Matthews assaulting Nelson several times,[169] including one incident when she sewed him up in bedsheets and beat him with a broomstick. But marrying Annie wasn't complicated at all," Nelson wrote (per People). Dick liked a song of Nelson's he heard on the bar's jukebox. #FarmAidFriday Willie and Lukas circa Farm Aid '92! [175] While swimming in Hawaii in 1981, Nelson's lung collapsed. The BioWillie plant was then put on the market for sale. [108], Following the U.S. coronavirus pandemic lockdowns that began in March 2020, Nelson livestreamed a series of benefit concerts. Nelson was married four times in his life, according to People. Twisted Willie, a tribute album featuring rock versions of Nelson's songs performed by artists such as Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Cantrell, Mark Lanegan, L7, The Presidents of the United States of America, and Jello Biafra, among others. He sold "Family Bible" to Buskirk for $50 and "Night Life" for $150. [114], For his releases of The Willie Nelson Family (2021) and A Beautiful Time (2022), Nelson received four nominations for the 65th Annual Grammy Awards winning in two categories: Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Album. [38] Country Willie His Own Songs became Nelson's first RCA Victor album, recorded in April 1965. [46], Nelson decided to return to the recording business, he signed Neil Reshen as his manager to negotiate with RCA, who got the label to agree to end his contract upon repayment of $14,000. Keep up with all the latest in TV coverage and entertainment newshere. Willie Nelson and Martha Matthews ended up parting ways in 1962. Everyone's favorite weed advocate is coming to Minnesota this coming May. [61], In the summer of 1977, Nelson discovered that Reshen had been filing tax extensions and not paying the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) since he took over as his manager. Nelson purchased the guitar unseen for $750 and named it after Roy Rogers' horse "Trigger". He served in the U.S. Air Force before becoming a disc jockey in Texas, Oregon, and California during the 1950s. His parents were Myrle Marie (ne Greenhaw) and Ira Doyle Nelson. [134] In November 2014, it was announced that Nelson would be the host of the television series Inside Arlyn, shot at Arlyn Studio in Austin, Texas. [185] During the 1990s, Nelson started to practice the Korean martial art GongKwon Yusul. The critical success of his album Shotgun Willie (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger (1975) and Stardust (1978), made Nelson one of the most recognized artists in country music. Make sure to share this with other Willie Nelson fans! "One in a Row" (#19, 1966), "The Party's Over" (#24 during a 16-week chart run in 1967), and his cover of Morecambe & Wise's "Bring Me Sunshine" (#13, March 1969) were Nelson's best-selling records during his time with RCA. Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman, the directors of the first authorized documentary project about Willie, were tasked with telling his story in a way that's never been told before. [149] Besides organizing and performing in the annual concerts, Nelson is the president of the board of Farm Aid. Freewheeling through time and space, driven by rhyme as much as reason, Willie Nelson & Family arrives at the day Nelson was born in its second hour, well after covering his Abbott, Texas. Turns out Mary and I had a child together called Renee. The Outlaws, along with Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser. [93] It was nominated for Best Americana Album at the 2011 Grammy Awards. In the mid-1980s, Nelson, Jennings, Kristofferson, and Johnny Cash formed The Highwaymen, a supergroup, who achieved platinum record sales and toured the world. In July 2020, Willie released his album First Rose of Spring - an atmospheric soulful showcase of beautifully-written songs and poignant performances. During the mid-1980s, while creating hit albums like Honeysuckle Rose and recording hit songs like "On the Road Again", "To All the Girls I've Loved Before", and "Pancho and Lefty", he joined the country supergroup The Highwaymen, along with fellow singers Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson. At times as much a meditation on the American experiment. [228] The following year, he was part of the inaugural class inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame. TJ Nelson. . So there were those situations. [97] His 2013 release To All the Girls, a collection of duets with all female partners, featured among others Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Mavis Staples, Norah Jones, Emmylou Harris, Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert. Willies fourth marriage to Annie D Angelo (1991 to present day) produced two sons (Micah and Lukas). But here, at the center of five rich and . [179] In 2004, Nelson underwent surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome, as he had damaged his wrists by continuously playing the guitar. Willie Nelson has eight children from four different women. Later, Nelson's attorney renegotiated a settlement with the IRS in which he paid $6million, although Nelson did not comply with the agreement. His duet with Keith, "Beer for My Horses", was released as a single and topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts for six consecutive weeks in 2003,[82] while the accompanying video won an award for "Best Video" at the 2004 Academy of Country Music Awards. From there he went on to have a very successful career that earned him a total of 12 Grammy Awards and a whopping 56 nominations. He was taken to the Maui Memorial Hospital and his scheduled concerts were canceled. Haggard has a look of complete joy on his face throughout the session in the old-timey recording setup once used by his musical heroes. During the ceremony, Nelson performed the song "Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die". Billy died in 1991. Willie Nelsons family includes two sons from his current wife Annie D Angelo and he fathered five other children from his prior three marriages including: Willie Nelson invited his family to tour with him in November and December of 2012, and Paula Nelson shared this photo via her Facebook page. [76], In 1996, Nelson re-recorded the tracks "Hello Walls" with the band The Reverend Horton Heat, and "Bloody Mary Morning" with the Supersuckers for Laura Bradshaw Published: March 3, 2023. The items include photographs, correspondence, song manuscripts, posters, certificate records, awards, signed books, screenplays, personal items and gifts and tributes from Nelson's fans. [191], Nelson has been arrested several times for marijuana possession. Nelson was born in Texas in 1933, making him 88 as of this writing however, getting older hasn't seemed to slow the musician's career down. but thats just the way it is. Nelson said that hed never experienced anything so devastating in his life than losing a child. [6][7] Nelson's grandfather bought him a guitar when he was six, and taught him a few chords,[4] and Nelson sang gospel songs in the local church alongside Bobbie. [73] Meanwhile, Nelson became more involved with charity work, such as singing on We are the World in 1984. Soon after his birth, his mother left the family, and . [163] During an interview with Texas Monthly in 2013, regarding the Defense of Marriage Act and Same-sex marriage in the United States, Nelson responded to a comparison the interviewer made with the Civil Rights Movement, stating: "We'll look back and say it was crazy that we ever even argued about this". Meanwhile, Nelson had a short stint as a relief phone operator in Abbott, followed by a job as a tree trimmer for the local electric company, as well as a pawn shop employee. [16] Upon his return in 1952, he married Martha Matthews, and from 1954 to 1956 studied agriculture at Baylor University, where he joined the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, until dropping out to pursue a career in music. Nelson endorsed O'Rourke, and received negative reactions from the conservative part of his followers. [15][21] He made his first record in 1956, "No Place for Me", that included Leon Payne's "Lumberjack" on the B-side. She is also well known for her duet with Nelson, Have You Ever Seen the Rain, from his 2013 album To All the Girls,and she hosts her own show on the Outlaw Country channel on Sirius XM. [181] In 2012, he canceled a fund-raising appearance in the Denver area. Aint that something?. The couple divorced in 1971, after Collie found a bill from the maternity ward of a Houston hospital charged to Nelson and Connie Koepke for the birth of Paula Carlene Nelson. Willies sons, Lukas and Micah, however, disagree with his self-criticism. Theproject gives us an inside look into the lives of the Nelson family and features amazing excerptsincluding a short clip of Willie Nelson and his sons performing Can I Sleep in Your Arms. Going with it is the essential vibe of Willie Nelson & Family, which has its Sundance Film Festival premiere today in Salt Lake City. [75] In 1980, Nelson performed on the south lawn of the White House. Paula was born while Nelson was still married to his second wife, which led to their divorce. 2582, introduced by State Representative Elizabeth Ames Jones and Senator Jeff Wentworth, which funded the Texas Music Project, the state's official music charity. Privacy Policy and Security Then there's daughter Amy Lee from his marriage to Connie Koepke who gave birth to Nelson's grandkids Lukas Autry and Jacob Micah. With Nelson's first marriage to Martha Matthews, their son Billy had a daughter Raelyn before his death in 1991. The first authorized work exploring the extraordinary life of Willie Nelson traverses the personal and career ups, downs, and in-betweens of one of the world's most beloved musicians, by turns spiritual, dramatic, and playful. READ NEXT: Annie DAngelo, Willie Nelsons Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Willie Nelsons Kids & Family: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. [92] The album peaked number four in Billboard's Top Country Albums, and twenty on the Billboard 200. [128] The fuel was made from vegetable oil (mainly soybean oil), and can be burned without modification in diesel engines. "Turns out Mary and I had a child together called Renee. [109] The third, which was held on April 20, 2020, was a variety show titled Come and Toke It. [145] The next year Nelson rescued the guitar from his burning ranch. [96] With the new deal, Buddy Cannon returned to produce the recordings of Nelson. During this period he often spent time at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, a bar near the Grand Ole Opry frequented by the show's stars and other singers and songwriters. [164], In June 2018, Nelson deplored the Trump administration family separation policy. The series concept received attention from cable channels that requested to see the pilot episode. Willie was then married to his second wife, Shirley, from 1963 to 1971. Born during the Great Depression and raised by his grandparents, Nelson wrote his first song at age seven and joined his first band at ten. Neil Young, Billy Strings, Margo Price, Snoop Dogg, Tom Jones, and Sturgill Simpson are all set to play for the Red Headed Stranger in L . [145], Nelson is active in a number of issues. [210] In 2011, Nelson was inducted to the National Agricultural Hall of Fame, for his labor in Farm Aid and other fund raisers to benefit farmers. Micah and Lukas both started their own bands. [71], Meanwhile, two collaborations with Waylon Jennings were released;WWII in 1982,[72] and Take it to the Limit, another collaboration with Waylon Jennings was released in 1983. The Nelson family is large and varied, but they all appear to remain connected through the years; quite the feat with so many members! In 1960 he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and later signed a publishing contract with Pamper Music which allowed him to join Ray Price's band as a bassist. The positive reception of the show prompted PBS to order ten episodes for 1976, formally launching the show. He has also dabbled in TV, appearing in everything from "Half Baked," "The Simpsons," and "The Colbert Report.". In 1985, he helped organize the first Farm Aid concert to benefit American farmers; the concerts have been held annually ever since and Nelson has been a fixture, appearing at every one. [218], An important collection of Willie Nelson materials (19751994) became part of the Wittliff collections of Southwestern Writers, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas. On the environmental front, Nelson owns the biodiesel brand Willie Nelson Biodiesel, whose product is made from vegetable oil. When a hurricane prevented Nelson from recording the song, the production team sent the track to Josh Homme in the hopes that he could record it in time for the game's release. In addition to the problems in his career, Nelson divorced Shirley Collie in 1970. Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, political activist and actor. [208][157] He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993,[209] and he received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1998. Nelson was arrested and jailed. Willie Nelson is an American musician, singer, songwriter, author, poet, social activist, and actor. I can say that because, 34 years after we first met, we're still together and going strong. [158] In January 2008, Nelson filed a suit against the Texas Democratic Party, alleging that the party violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution by refusing to allow co-plaintiff Kucinich to appear on the primary ballot because he had scratched out part of the loyalty oath on his application. The release won three awards during the 25th Annual Grammy Awards: Song of the Year, Best Country Song and Best Male Country Vocal Performance. [83] A USA Network television special celebrated Nelson's 70th birthday,[84] and Nelson released The Essential Willie Nelson as part of the celebration. ", "Willie Nelson Ad for Kinky Friedman Valued Highly", "The Performers in 'The American Epic Sessions', "The Pope of Austin, Texas Interview: Willie Nelson", "ALBUM REVIEWS / POP: 'Twisted Willie' Gives Nelson Grunge Honors Treatment", "Willie Nelson Still Cares for His 'Additional Wives', "Rhonda Vincent And Willie Nelson Top The Charts", "Willie Nelson statue and boulevard planned for Austin", "Sixth Generation (Descendants of Alfred Nelson)", "Willie Nelson Extends Record For Most Top 10 Country Albums", "Tax Shelter of Rich and Famous Has Final Date in Court", "Woody Harrelson plans a 40-day desert-island starvation", "Willie Nelson has Near-Sellout Crowd in Palm of his Hand Sunday", "Willie Nelson to Host 'Come and Toke It' Livestream Variety Show on 4/20", "Willie Nelson Wins 2020 Grammys Best Country Solo Performance For 'Ride Me Back Home', "The Music of Red Dead Redemption 2 Featuring Daniel Lanois", "EXCLUSIVE: Willie Nelson on same-sex marriage", "The Last Word on the Willie Nelson Bus That's NOT Willie Nelson's Bus", "Willie Nelson to Receive Gershwin Prize for Songwriting", "Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert and Eric Church win CMA Awards", "The Long-Lost, Rebuilt Recording Equipment That First Captured the Sound of America", "Woody Harrelson Writes, Directs & Stars In Live-Event Film 'Lost In London' With Owen Wilson & Willie Nelson", "Willie Nelson Is 'Fine' After Canceling a Show", "Willie Nelson is officially a literary star: So says the Texas Institute of Letters", "Willie Nelson and B.B. With a seven-decade career, Willie Nelson has earned every conceivable award as a musician and amassed reputable credentials as an author, actor, and activist. The couple had three children: Lana, Susie, and Willie "Billy" Hugh Jr. [199] Nelson's lawyer Joe Turner reached an agreement with the prosecutor. He also presented two logos with the pink equal sign, symbol of the LGBT movement. [50] His next release, Phases and Stages, released in 1974, was a concept album about a couple's divorce, inspired by his own experience. A truck driver drove him to a bus station and loaned him $10 for a ticket to reach Portland. The charges were later dropped, since Reshen's assistant, Mark Rothbaum stepped in and took the charges. In 2017, Nelson released God's Problem Child. They have two sons, Lukas Autry and Jacob Micah. In 1962, he recorded his first album, And Then I Wrote. I consider them as much a part of Willie Nelson and Family as I do my other children. After those two divorced, he went on to marry Connie Kopeke and the two share two daughters, Lana and Amy Lee. Willie Nelson is a classic country singer known for his hits "On the Road Again" and "Hello Walls," along with countless others. [24] Nelson and Cochran also met Cline's husband, Charlie Dick at Tootsie's. Getty Images. The company built the Honeysuckle Rose I in 1983, which was replaced after a collision in Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1990. [193] The bags were later sent to them. He raised money, appeared at events, and composed the song "Whatever Happened to Peace on Earth? I have an old, dear friend Mary Haney, who Id lost touch with but recently met again after decades, he said. Willie NELSON first married Martha Jewell MATHEWS and they had three children: Delana Nelson, born 1953 in Hillsboro, Texas. During high school, he toured locally with the Bohemian Polka as their lead singer and guitar player. It also turns out Renee has a daughter, Noelle, who has a daughter, Jordan, who I am happy to now call my great-granddaughter. His first two successful singles as an artist were released by the next year, including "Willingly" (a duet with his soon-to-be second wife, Shirley Collie, which became his first charting single and first Top Ten at No. While playing with Price and the Cherokee Cowboys, his songs became hits for other artists, including "Funny How Time Slips Away" (Billy Walker), "Pretty Paper" (Roy Orbison), and, most famously, "Crazy" by Patsy Cline. He ordered self-defense manuals on jujitsu and judo that he saw advertised in Batman and Superman comic books. [186] In 2014, after 20 years in the discipline, his Grand Master Sam Um presented him with a fifth-degree black belt in a ceremony held in Austin, Texas. Here's what we know about his children, many of whom are musicians today. Willie Nelson has made quite a name for himself as a true music icon. [6] "Crazy" became the biggest jukebox hit of all time. [111][112][113] The same year, Nelson was approached by Karen O of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs to collaborate. [22] The recording failed. He suffered from breathing problems due to high altitude and emphysema and was taken to a local hospital. Nelson also appeared on Ringo Starr's 2003 album, Ringo Rama, as a guest vocal on "Write One for Me". The original version of "Lay Me Down" was released by Lynn and Willie Nelson in 2016, making Russell and Lukas Nelson's performance of it even more special. First, to a woman named Martha Matthews, and the two were together from 1952-1962. From that relationship, Nelson has a granddaughter Noelle, and a great-granddaughter Jordan. In June 2021, a collection of his thoughts on America, family, faith and music hits shelves as a new book titled Willie Nelson's Letters to America. He . [101] In June 2015, his collaboration with Haggard Django and Jimmie topped Billboard's Top Country albums chart and reached number seven on the Billboard 200. On June 23, 2010, he was inducted into the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry. [51] The album included the hit single "Bloody Mary Morning". Bobbie Nelson, a longtime member of Willie Nelson's Family Band, has died at 91. He explored genres such as reggae, blues, jazz, and folk. Nelson has two children with current wife Annie D'Angelo and five from his previous. <style type="text/css"> .event, .event-header__more-button, .event-header__menu-button, .menu, .page__wrapper, #edp-ticket-loader, #modal-dialog { display:none . They divorced. [125] Pretty Paper, another collaboration with Ritz was published the following year. Related article: Learn more about Willie Nelsons wife Annie DAngelo. After those two divorced, he went on to marry Connie Kopeke and the two share two daughters, Lana and Amy Lee. Nelson, for instance, doesn't talk in the documentary at all about his son William "Billy" Nelson Jr.'s suicide at age 33. Meanwhile, Micah heads the band Particle Kid and has toured with his father and his brother on and off for several years. [212] In 2018 The Texas Institute of Letters inducted him among its members for his songwriting. Then in 2012, Nelson discovered he had a daughter Renee with his "Stagecoach" co-star Mary Haney. [85], Nelson was featured on the album True Love by Toots and the Maytals, which won the Grammy Award in 2004 for Best Reggae Album, and showcased many notable musicians including Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Trey Anastasio, Gwen Stefani, and Keith Richards. Turns out Mary and I had a child together called Renee. [150], Nelson is a co-chair of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) advisory board. Nelson learned to play guitar from his grandfather and at the age of 10 was performing at local dances. Nelson played him a demo tape of "Crazy". He moved to a ranch near Bandera, Texas, and married Connie Koepke. [206] The lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount and Nelson cleared his debts by 1993. The last number he performed was "Vote 'Em Out", a new track that was subsequently released as a single. [57] The album Wanted! Willie worried for years that he was not the best father and admitted to Rolling Stonein an interview, Ive been gone most of the time due to a lifelong series of tours. [229], For many years, Nelson's image was marked by his red hair, often divided into two long braids partially concealed under a bandanna. as a double album, with all profits destined for the IRS. Nelson attended Abbott High School, where he was a halfback on the football team, guard on the basketball team, and shortstop in baseball. [213] He was included by Rolling Stone on its 100 Greatest Singers and 100 Greatest Guitarists lists. [64] Though observers predicted that Stardust would ruin his career, it went platinum the same year. The use of the logos became popular quickly in social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. Cannon's association to Nelson also extended to songwriting, with singer and producer composing the lyrics by exchanging text messages. [167] His first marriage was to Martha Matthews from 1952 to 1962. 311) alongside the Animal Welfare Institute. [58] Later that year Nelson released The Sound in Your Mind (certified gold in 1978 and platinum in 2001)[59] and his first gospel album Troublemaker[60] (certified gold in 1986). [214][215], In 2003, Texas Governor Perry signed bill No. [45] In March, he performed on the final day of the Dripping Springs Reunion, a three-day country music festival aimed by its producers to be an annual event. Here's How Many Grandchildren Willie Nelson Has, Me and Sister Bobbie: True Tales of the Family Band. [234] The current lineup includes all the members but Jody Payne, who retired, Bee Spears, who died in 2011, and Willie's sister Bobbie Nelson, who died in 2022.