Me and Sister Bobbie

True Tales of the Family Band

By: Willie Nelson, Bobbie Nelson, David Ritz

Narrated by: Willie Nelson, Bobbie Nelson

Length: 6 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's Summary

The untold story of Willie Nelson and his sister, Bobbie, who, over the course of their lives together, supported each other through personal tragedies and triumphs and forged an unbreakable bond through their shared love of music

“Tender and intimate.”—The New Yorker
“Poignant, beautiful, heartfelt.”—New York Journal of Books

ONE OF THE BEST MUSIC BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Rolling Stone, Kirkus Reviews

Abandoned by their parents as toddlers, Willie and Bobbie Nelson found their love of music almost immediately through their grandparents, who raised them in a small Texas town. Their close relationship was the longest-lasting bond in both their lives.

In alternating chapters, this heartfelt dual memoir weaves together both their stories as they experienced them side by side and apart. The Nelsons share powerful, emotional moments from growing up, playing music in public for the first time, and facing trials in adulthood, as Willie pursued songwriting and Bobbie faced a series of challenging relationships and a musical career that took off only when attitudes about women began to change in Texas. This is Bobbie’s only memoir, and in it she candidly shares her life story in full. Her deeply affecting chapters delve into her personal relationships and life as a mother and as a musician with technical skills that even Willie admits surpass his own. In his poignant stories, Willie shares the depth of his bond with his sister, and how that bond carried him through his most troubled moments. Willie and Bobbie supported each other through unthinkable personal heartbreak, and they always shared in each other’s victories. Through dizzying highs and traumatic lows, spanning almost nine decades of life, Willie and Bobbie always had each other’s back.

Their story is an inspiring, lyrical statement of how family always finds the way.

©2020 Willie Nelson, Bobbie Nelson, David Ritz (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

“Written in gritty, unapologetic Texas jargon, in short chapters alternating between Willie and Bobbie, Me and Sister Bobbie, a poignant, beautiful, heartfelt co-memoir, delights and astounds.”—New York Journal of Books 

“Tender and intimate.”—The New Yorker 

“Nelson and Family Band fans will relish even the details they already knew, and readers just seeking a mostly uplifting family story will be pleased as well.”—Rolling Stone 

Willie and Bobbie Nelson Are The Best of Friends

I have loved Willie Nelson since my mother discovered his album, Red Headed Stranger. My dad had red hair and my mother loved Willie maybe for his red hair. I grew up in Tulsa so had the country vibe from birth. Fortunately, my husband is also a fan. I loved this book. The narration started off a bit slow but after I got into the personality of Bobbie I could see how she grew up in a time when women turned to men for everything. She was a very talented musician in her own right but most of her fame came from playing with Willie. Glad she finally was able to join the band is share in the fame. Country music is not all fun and easy even when talented as Willie and Waylon demonstrated. I was pleased to finally find out who Paul is in the song 'Me and Paul' and to know they have been friends forever. This book is only 7 hours long and I wanted to have more about the later years but maybe there will be a sequel. They have a few more years left to travel and perform. Good genes. Thank you Willie and Bobbie for sharing your personal happenings. Glad you both are survivors.

Me and Sister Bobbie-fantastic

One of the best autobiographies I’ve read. Filled with faith, family, song, & reflections about life.

real love between a brother and sister 👍 loyalty

what an awesome story. a lot of sad a lot of happy and most of all the love of music and family That's what I heard through the whole book from Willie and sister Bobby.

Brutally honest & heartwarming -

Although I was familiar
with a few of the stories, as I have been a huge fan of Willie & his family for almost five decades, I was amazed at the brutal honesty with which they shared their most private & personal tragedies.
No, they did not share any of the ugly, unnecessary details of the many tragedies & heartbreaks they endured. Instead they chose to share their raw, honest feelings & how they managed to get through these exceptionally difficult times with grace.
No, the Nelsons aren’t pretending to be angels. I think most of
us are familiar with Willie’s “outlaw” past. 😉 They also make it clear they are not preaching.
After several marriages & divorces & despite surviving the unspeakable loss of not just one, but three children, both Bobbie & Willie share how they always stayed close to the three stabilizing forces in their lives - God (“Spirit”, or whatever you choose to call your Higher Power🕊), family & music. They credit their strong faith & family values to their grandparents who raised them in a small town called Abbot in west Texas when they were abandoned by their parents who were not mature enough to raise the two very young children. However, Bobbie never speaks badly of any of the people who wounded her so deeply.
Both she & Willie come from
a place of gratitude for what they have been given in life & forgiveness for the people who have hurt them, although Willie freely admits that Bobbie is far better at this than most.
Willie credits his decision to switch from smoking cigarettes & drinking whiskey, to smoking marijuana, for extending & even improving his life & his big sister agrees. They are both proponents of the use & legalization of marijuana.
The love, admiration & respect this brother & sister have for the other is very evident in the way they speak of, & to, each other. It is truly heartwarming.
I really enjoyed hearing Bobbie & Willie read their own stories & share their wisdom, as I don’t think anyone else could have done them justice. I did adjust the narration speed when Bobbie read, as Willie speaks more quickly. I
also enjoyed hearing them share their music between chapters. I ended up finishing the book in only one day & after listening to it, I’m even more of a fan.

I never knew...

As a Willie Nelson fan, I've read almost all of his books and the different autobiographies, but I never knew the full story behind his sister Bobbie Nelson. I'm so glad I listened to the audiobook version because I could feel the pain and heaviness that Bobbie experienced in her life and I literally had tears more than once. This is an excellent story and telling it from both brother and sister's viewpoints was a genius idea. Please listen to their story as only they can tell it.

needs to be a mini series and real to the authors

this needs to be mini series on a network that will be real to the authors!!!!!

what a great book

I've always enjoyed Willie's music but but was unsure of his lifestyle. However, after listening to this book it's a lot easier to understand a lot of why he is the way he is. Lots of tragedy and lots of comedy along the way in his and Bobby's life. Please read or listen and enjoy their story.

An Interesting Look at these Siblings

WOW - I'd heard tales of Willie's unusual life but loved how this book pulled the brother and sister together to tell their sides of growing up together. The unabashed love for each other and the honesty about decisions in their life was refreshing. What was most impressive was that neither of them ever lost their faith....and there were times when I'm sure that was difficult.

A wonderful story providing great insight into their lives.

Loved it!

How can you not love hearing Willie and Bobbi's voices as they talk about their life story. Never realizing what an impact she had on his life, Bobbi's story was beautiful although sometimes sad. But such is life! As they both moved around the country, the people that impact their lives come and go. But their relationship is never ending. It would be a relationship we would all wish for - the bond of a sister and brother.

Praise to God!

Bobbie and Willie are beautiful examples of not allowing the bad memories define who they are. They did not allow their parents leaving them to keep them from living their lives the way they should. Praise to God for Bobbie and Willie.

Authentic and moving

Although I never thought I’d get through the whole of this book, it’s quirky style intrigued me and the teasing chapter ends kept me wanting more. I found Bobbie’s chapters so moving that more than once I felt a lump in my throat. She relates her story with such a sad tone in her voice that you cannot help but feel her pain. I loved the chapters read by Willie for their honesty and down to earth humility. I knew Willie was an accomplished song writer but never knew just how much he influenced so many different musical genres. 10 out of 10 on every level