<Tr> <Th> Occupation </Th> <Td> Actress, Singer - songwriter </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Years active </Th> <Td> 1978--present </Td> </Tr> <P> Allison Balson (born November 19, 1969) is an American actress, who is also a published singer and songwriter . Her best - known role was that of Nancy Oleson on the Little House on the Prairie series which she held between 1981 and 1983 . She graduated valedictorian from her high school and went on to receive a bachelor's degree from Princeton University and a master's degree from Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland . </P> <P> In 1987 Allison's song "I Wonder" was featured in the soundtrack for Legend of the White Horse (CBS / Warner Bros .). In 2005 Allison recorded and released a limited - edition CD . In 2008 she collaborated on writing, producing, engineering, and performing a full - length album through the label Organic Time Records as the duo Allison & Stone . In 2012, Allison began hosting and producing the radio show Music Scene Live, which brings original music of singer / songwriters in "live" performance and candid dialogue in front of a "live" audience . </P>

Who played nancy in little house on the prairie