In an exclusive interview, Gunnar Nelson and Matt Nelson are opening up about life as the sons of pop icon Ricky Nelson and the grandsons of early television pioneers Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Nelson. The identical twins, now 58, come from one of the most storied families in American entertainment history, and their new book, What Happened To Your Hair?, marks the first time they have publicly shared their family story in their own words.
Beyond the “Nepo Baby” Label
Long before conversations about nepotism dominated pop culture, the Nelson brothers were navigating the expectations tied to their famous last name. While they acknowledge being born into music, Gunnar and Matt emphasize that their careers were built through years of songwriting, touring, and self-production.
They first rose to fame in the 1980s as the hard rock duo Nelson, and today remain the only family listed in the Guinness Book of World Records to achieve No. 1 records across three consecutive generations. Still, the brothers say misconceptions about their upbringing persist. “Our life was not Ozzie and Harriet,” they explain, noting that the wholesome image associated with their grandparents’ sitcom rarely reflected their own childhood reality.
Setting the Record Straight on Ricky Nelson
A central focus of the book is the legacy of their father, Ricky Nelson, who sold more than half a billion records and helped pioneer early rock and roll before later reinventing himself as a country-rock artist. Despite his success, Gunnar points out that Ricky never won a Grammy, just as Ozzie Nelson never received an Emmy nomination despite creating and starring in all 435 episodes of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. The memoir also revisits the tragic plane crash that killed Ricky Nelson and six others on December 31, 1985. The twins, just 18 at the time, were originally scheduled to be on the flight before their father insisted they travel separately. They recount learning of the crash in real time and the intense media attention that followed.
Family, Trauma, and Gratitude
Beyond fame and tragedy, What Happened To Your Hair? explores deeply personal topics, including their parents’ divorce, their mother’s alcoholism, and the emotional toll of growing up in the public eye. Yet the through line of the book is resilience. The brothers describe how music and their bond as twins helped them survive difficult years. “We always had each other,” they say, describing gratitude as the key force that carried them forward through financial hardship and personal loss.
Owning Their Story
Now, decades into their careers, Gunnar and Matt say the book represents creative freedom. It allows them to honor their family’s legacy while finally defining it on their own terms—without industry filters or public mythmaking. What Happened To Your Hair? will be released on December 16, 2025, offering readers an intimate look at a legendary family whose real story is far more complex than its public image.
