Being Willie Nelson's daughter might sound like an easy ticket into the music industry, but for Paula Nelson, it's quite the opposite. The 39-year-old daughter of the Country legend from his third marriage has been making a name for herself in the music industry with the Paula Nelson Band, which has been together for 12 years. But she did not start off in music.With no formal music training, Paula worked at an Alzheimer's clinic, as a phone operator, a massage therapist and a waitress, starting at age 18. Growing up with musical roots, though, it wasn't long before Paula began writing and performing herself. "I just started playing music the way I felt it," she said.For her 39th birthday, father Willie gave her a very special present for her and the band: his old tour bus, Honeysuckle Rose."Of course, I'm extremely grateful, but people are around it like, 'Oh my God, a tour bus, you've got a tour bus.' I realize that: I grew up on one, and it's hard."That bus will be getting some good use in the coming weeks. The Paula Nelson Band is currently touring the West Coast and Southwest, and they will head to the East Coast and France in the spring and summer.
