Meet Willie Nelson's 8 Children Including Daughter He Found Out About In 2012

Publish date: 2024-05-20

Willie Nelson is a legendary star and father to eight beautiful kids, who are grown adults with their own families. Here’s a look at their lives.

Without question, Willie Nelson's career has been nothing short of legendary. As early as the 1960s, he made a significant dent in the Nashville industry and alerted the world to Austin's existence.

He transcends genres, befriends sitting presidents, and has an arrest warrant taller than some adults. He also has quite a few children - some of them are even legitimate. Let's get to know them!

Willie Nelson speaks onstage at his album premiere. | Source: Getty Images

THE MAN IS NOT A MYTH

Nelson has contributed a hefty series of masterpieces, such as "Funny How Time Slips Away," "Pretty Paper," and "Crazy," among others. Nelson sustained his talent on 69 solo studio albums, 12 live albums, and 42 compilation albums over his long career.

To top it off, he was also the artist for the original movie soundtrack for the films "Honeysuckle Rose" and "The Electric Horsemen." With his success in penning countless masterpieces, coupled with topping the Billboard charts, Nelson's career is truly historical and serves as an inspiration to many.

Willie Nelson performs onstage at the 25th anniversary MusiCares 2015 Person Of The Year Gala. | Source: Getty Images

Nelson first married Martha Matthews in 1952, and they had three children before divorcing in 1962, with Lana being the eldest.

Nelson regularly shared posts of special memories with Lana through his verified accounts: from the time she signed his cast to when his daughter supported his business. The photos illuminate his relationship with his eldest, one he has kept close to his heart.

Lana Nelson, at Luck Ranch in Spicewood, Texas. 2019. Image Credit: Getty Images

Susie Nelson. Image Source: YouTube/Gannon Engels

WILLIAM "BILLY" HUGH, JR.

The third child with Matthews was Willy Hugh, Jr., nicknamed Billy. Sadly, on Christmas Day, 1991, two years after his mother, Martha, died, Billy took his own life. He was only 33-years-old, and his death left his father devastated. Nelson later said it was the darkest period in his life.

George Strait and Willie Nelson. Image Source: YouTube/Folk Uke Official

Nelson's fourth child, Paula, is shared with Connie Koepke. Connie was Nelson's third wife. After Matthews, Nelson married and divorced country singer Shirley Collie.

Collie called it quits after finding out Nelson had fathered Paula after receiving the maternity ward's bill in the mail.

Image source: Getty Images

Despite the unfortunate events from his marriage, Nelson has been lucky with his children. Paula also inherited his undisputed talent and became a singer and a disc jockey.

Nelson shares a masterpiece created with his daughter called "Have You Ever Seen The Rain?", first featured in 2013's "To All The Girls," and later on HBO's "Big Little Lies."

Paula Nelson. Image Credit: Getty Images

After Paula, Nelson and Koepke had a second child, Amy. As expected, Amy has musical talents and even joined her dad on certain occasions on stage.

One of Amy's most notable performances was when she shared the stage with her father and sister, Paula, to sing "Have You Ever Seen The Rain?"

Amy Nelson. Image Credit: Getty Images

After Nelson's divorce from Koepke, he found Annie D'Angelo. In 1988, they had a child and named him Lukas. Lukas fronts his band, "Lukas Nelson & The Promise of the Real."

Beyond his band, Lukas also lends his talents to the film industry. He wrote and produced tracks for the recent masterpiece, "A Star Is Born."

Lukas Nelson. Image Credit: Getty Images

Nelson and D'Angelo had a second child, Jacob Micah. Micah spends much of his time casually playing music with both his father and his brother, Lukas. He also spent time touring with Neil Young and is involved in music projects such as the psych-punk-orchestra Insects vs. Robots.

Image source: Getty Images

Renee, who brings Nelson's child count to eight, joined the family with the most exciting story. In 1986, Willie Nelson was requested to appear in a made-for-TV remake of "Stagecoach."

There, he acted alongside legendary singer/songwriters. Nelson had previously performed in the films "Honeysuckle Rose" and "Songwriter," but he was particularly excited to portray Doc Holliday.

Trevor Nelson, Paula Nelson, Jacob Micah Nelson, Lukas Nelson, Amy Nelson, Willie Nelson, Annie D'Angelo, Raelyn Nelson, Rachel Fowler, Dean Hubbard, Martha Fowler, and Lana Nelson attend Hard Rock International's Wille Nelson Artist Spotlight Benefit Concert at Hard Rock Cafe, Times Square on June 6, 2013. Image Credit: Getty Images

In an interview, Nelson shared that he made a friend on set, Mary Haney, whom he had not seen for decades. He didn't know they shared a daughter!/ By the time he found out about her, in 2012, she had a daughter of her own, Noelle, and a grandchild, Jordan.

He expressed regret over not knowing about them sooner but is thrilled by the fact that his children have all reached out to keep in touch. Through countless photographs, it appears that having different mothers never stopped Nelson's kids from uniting as one.

Image source: Getty Images

LIFE WITH ANNIE

Considering that Nelson met and fell in love with Annie while married to Connie Koepke, it makes sense for Annie to have doubts about his faithfulness.

While Nelson's three failed marriages may give Annie reason to question their future together, Nelson constantly learned from his past mistakes. Having been in serious relationships and marriages for the better part of 60 years, he believes that wisdom comes with age.

Willie Nelson and Annie D'Angelo, 2013. Image Credit: Getty Images

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF WILLIE

Growing up, while his classmates were struggling to color inside the lines of pictures, Nelson was composing music.

He recalled the experience to Rolling Stone in 2004: "Back when we used to take music lessons from our grandmother, we'd go through lessons, and if we'd get the lesson right that day, she'd take a gold star."

Reese Witherspoon, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow and Nicole Kidman attend the 53rd annual CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 13, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. Image Credit: Getty Images

He also worked alongside his grandmother, picking cotton. It was a vocation he continued with into adulthood, before he became a full-time musician. He also spent time as a disc jockey and a Bible salesman. Believe it or not, it can be quite a prolific gig in Texas!

After relocating to Nashville, Nelson arrived home one evening to find his house on fire! "By the time I got there, it was burning real good," he told People in 1980. "But I had this pound of Colombian grass inside. I wasn't being brave running in there to get my dope."

Image source: Getty Images

He then went on to explain exactly what was running through his head at the time: "I was trying to keep the firemen from finding it and turning me over to the police." One-hundred tapes of yet-to-be-recorded songs weren't at the top of Nelson's list, though, and were lost in the fire.

In 1972, Nelson decided it was time to retire and return to Austin. He paid $14,000 to buy out his contract. A tale familiar to countless musicians now, his retirement from the music business didn't last long. Perhaps it was an innate inability.

Image source: Getty Images

Perhaps it was the exploding music scene in Austin. Within a year, he returned to the charts with the album "Shotgun Willie." By the mid-1970s, he had composed some of his biggest hits and albums, including "Red Headed Stranger," "The Sound in Your Mind," and "The Troublemaker."

The 1978 album "Stardust" featured Nelson's covers of pop standards like "Georgia on My Mind" and "Unchained Melody." It spent two years on the Billboard 200 and 540 weeks (more than ten years) on various country music charts.

Willie Nelson attends a Q&A following the Luck Cinema screening of 'Red Headed Stranger' at Luck Ranch on July 06, 2019 in Spicewood, Texas. Image Credit: Getty Images

Nelson's 1980 hit, "On The Road Again," was written aboard an airplane—on a barf bag. "I was on an airplane with Sydney Pollack and Jerry Schatzberg, who was the director of the movie Honeysuckle Rose," Nelson told Uncut in 2014.

Nelson has been composing and playing songs on his beloved guitar, Trigger, named after Roy Rogers' horse, since 1969. Nelson almost lost Trigger in 1990, when the IRS raided his home and seized his assets for non-payment of taxes.

Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson. Image Credit: Getty Images

Nelson recorded a new album with the IRS receiving at least 15 cents of every dollar made. The resulting limited-edition, "The IRS Tapes: Who'll Buy My Memories," sold for $19.95 and was purchased by calling 1-800-IRS-TAPE.

Government man and former President Jimmy Carter never made a secret of his admiration for and friendship with Nelson. On September 13, 1980, Nelson performed for President Carter and his guests at the White House. The set included a duet with then-First Lady Rosalynn Carter.

Image source: Getty Images

In 2012, the former President had his chance to share the stage with the legendary musician. The two performed "Amazing Grace" together in Atlanta.

On quite a few occasions, Nelson has recounted that long-ago evening at the White House and how he snuck onto the roof and smoked a joint.

Willie Nelson, 1978. Image Credit: Getty Images

As more and more states are legalizing the herb, Nelson put his expertise to good use and launched his very own brand: Willie's Reserve. Nelson's company was founded in 2015 and aimed to deliver Nelson's herbal remedy of choice to customers located in states which have legalized the product.

In early 2018, it was announced that Willie Nelson had raised about $12 million to expand his latest business venture.

Image source: Getty Images

Recently, Annie decided to become business partners with her husband, launching Annie's Edibles, a branch of Willie's Reserves, specializing in tasty chocolate treats infused with only the finest of natural herbal medicine.

Nelson and D'Angelo currently live in their beautiful island home in Maui, Hawaii, near Kris Kristofferson, the Outlaw country movement, and Nelson's longtime friend.

Nelson and D'Angelo's house, and Kristofferson's, of course, are part of a large, self-sustaining community. When the couple isn't enjoying their cozy lifestyle in Hawaii, Nelson and D'Angelo enjoy frequent visits to their ranch in Texas.

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Meet Willie Nelson's 8 Children Including Daughter He Found Out About In 2012