The Tragic Life Of Willie Nelson's Son, Billy Nelson

Success, fame, and fortune are no sure passport to happiness. Nor do they protect a person against personal pain and heartbreak. And while tragedy often is the stuff of which art is made, it's still just that: tragedy. It happens to all of us, regardless of celebrity.

Case in point: The life of Willie Nelson, who is arguably one of the most influential country music singers and songwriters ever to pick up a guitar. Besides hard-earned success in and out of the studio, Nelson also helped establish Farm Aid to assist and raise awareness of the struggles of family farms in America and participated in numerous benefit concerts and telethons for worthy causes, including "A Tribute to Heroes" after the 9/11 attacks. But he's also fought a much-publicized battle with the IRS, been married four times — three ended in divorce — and although he's the father of eight children, his son from his first marriage brought about a father's greatest heartache and most dreaded nightmare.

The year was 1991, and Willie Nelson's son, William Hugh Nelson Jr. — "Billy" Nelson — was 33 years old. On Christmas Day, Billy died by suicide in his log cabin home in Davidson County, Tennessee. It came as a shock to those close to him. Even though Billy had been through difficult times in the couple of years leading up to his death, he seemed like he was doing well to those who had been around him. Willie would later say, "I've never experienced anything so devastating in my life," according to People. 

Willie Nelson was married to Martha Matthews from 1952 to 1962. Billy was the youngest child and the only boy from the union. According to People, the couple married the first year they'd met when Willie was 19 and Martha was just 16 years old. Willie was not around much when Billy and his sisters, Lana and Susie, were kids, as the "Always On My Mind" singer admitted he "was too busy trying to pay the rent." And when he was around, things might have been dramatic. One often reported story says that Martha became fed up with Willie's carousing and tied him up with her children's jump ropes and "beat the hell out of him" with a broom handle, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. Martha said, "Oh, it was quite a commotion, but nothing our neighbors at Dunns Trailer Park in Nashville hadn't heard coming out of our trailer before."

Though the family broke up, as adults, the father and son shared a connection over music. In 1987, Willie and Billy began the process of working on an album of gospel music together, per Promised Land Music. Billy also occasionally joined his father on stage to sing gospel songs.

With the death of his son, Willie shelved the project for a time. Once he could focus again on that particular project, Willie completed and released the album "Peace in the Valley" in 1994. Included among the cuts was a special duet between father and son, with Billy singing lead vocals, "My Body's Just a Suitcase for My Soul." The album saw a re-release in 2015.

The Charlotte Observer reported that Willie Nelson had been with Billy Nelson in Nashville only a couple of weeks before his death. A spokesperson for the family said during the visit, "Everyone thought everything was fine," but in light of the news Willie, who was in Abbot Texas when he found out his son took his own life, was "very sad and trying to deal with it."

Per the Orlando Sentinel, Billy underwent a 30-day program for alcohol abuse in 1990. People reported that police arrested and charged Billy with a DUI four times before he sought treatment and that one of Billy's friends, Buddy Frank, spent time with him the day before he died. He said of Billy, "On Monday he got himself a haircut and some new pants and boots," — that Monday was December 23rd. Frank said on Tuesday the 24th, "We was kickin' up like best friends do." Frank left Billy's house around 2 a.m. Christmas morning. 

That said, records showed that Billy was legally drunk when he died. Billy's longtime friend, Lou Mullins of Ridgetop, Tennessee, said, "The only problem he had was with what killed him [alcohol]." He also said that Willie Nelson did everything he could for Billy (via People). But Christmastime seemed to hold difficult memories for Billy, as his mother, Martha, died during the 1989 Christmas season, and he also separated from his wife Janet Caldwell that same December with Caldwell retaining custody of the couple's daughter, Rae Lynn.

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If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).