Tyka Nelson Breaks Silence on Final Phone Call with Prince: ‘He Always Dodged My Questions’

Tyka Nelson, the sister of the legendary musician Prince, has opened up about her final conversation with him, recalling a time of confusion and sorrow just days before his tragic passing in April 2016. In an emotional interview with Star Tribune, Tyka, who passed away on November 5, 2024, shared her grief and the haunting details of their last phone call, which occurred just four days before Prince was found dead at his Paisley Park home.

Prince, who died at the age of 57 from an accidental fentanyl overdose, was known for his enigmatic and private nature. Tyka described him as always being elusive, especially during their final interactions. “He was always dodging questions. I was just angry. I was like, ‘Talk to me for two seconds,’” she said. Her frustration was clear as she tried to connect with her brother, who had long kept parts of his life shrouded in mystery.

The siblings shared both their parents, Mattie Della Shaw and John Lewis Nelson, although Prince had five other half-siblings. Despite the challenges of their complex family dynamics, Tyka’s bond with her brother was deeply significant. Yet, in their final conversation, she felt as though Prince was purposefully avoiding any personal discussion. “He would change the subject, tell a joke and then we would both laugh,” she recalled.

One of the more striking elements of the phone call was Prince’s request for Tyka to reconnect with family members. “Prince wanted me to find Sharon’s phone number. I didn’t question it,” Tyka revealed. “It was like, ‘Send this picture to that person.’ Okay. What for?” This odd request, Tyka suggested, could have been his way of seeking to rebuild ties with his relatives toward the end of his life, but it was also emblematic of his tendency to shift conversations away from his personal struggles.

Just two nights before the phone call, Tyka had visited her brother at Paisley Park, shortly after he had been hospitalized following an emergency plane landing in Moline, Illinois. Despite his frail appearance and weight loss, she says Prince did not open up about his health. “I asked a couple times, ‘How are you really doing?’” she said, but each time, Prince dodged her questions, offering no direct response. “It upset me, and he knew it, but that’s all he wanted to say to me. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

For Tyka, losing Prince was a painful and complicated process. “It took me a long time,” she admitted, reflecting on the profound sense of loss that followed his death. “Because he was the last link I had to anyone on this earth—my mom, my dad, my brother.”

Their relationship, despite being full of unspoken emotions and unanswered questions, was one of deep, unshakable connection. Tyka’s grief was palpable, and her struggle to understand Prince’s mysterious nature seemed to have become more intense as she tried to reconcile their final moments together.

The impact of Prince’s death reverberated far beyond his immediate family. Friends like Sheila E., his longtime collaborator and drummer, also continue to share their fond memories of him. In a 2021 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Sheila E. reflected on her time playing alongside the musical icon, remembering how he supported her dream of playing in a rock band. “When I told Prince, I said, ‘I want to play drums in a band. I don’t want to be the lead artist anymore. I just want to play with people,’” she recalled. Prince’s immediate response was, “Okay, want to play in my band?” The result was the groundbreaking Sign o’ the Times era, where Sheila E. had the chance to play in a full drum kit and embrace the raw energy of rock and funk.

Tyka’s revelations about her final moments with Prince offer a poignant glimpse into the complexity of their sibling relationship, defined by love, frustration, and an unspoken understanding that will forever remain in the hearts of fans and family alike. The mystery of Prince’s life and death continues to capture the world’s imagination, and through Tyka’s heartfelt words, the world is reminded of the deep emotional connections that were at the heart of his extraordinary legacy.