Shirley Collie Nelson, country singer and second wife of the legendary Willie Nelson, passed away on Wednesday (Jan. 27) at the age of 78, CMT reports.Shirley made a name for herself on television before she hit country radio, as she appeared on ABC's 'Ozark Jubilee' -- a country music variety show -- in the late '50s. She released three singles on Liberty Records in the early '60s, including a duet with Willie called 'Wilingly,' which marked her future husband's debut on the Billboard country charts and her only appearance on the Top Ten. Shirley's first single was 'Dime a Dozen,' penned by songwriting legend Harlan Howard. She followed it with a cover of 'Why, Baby, Why,' written and first released by George Jones. Those two songs both cracked the Top 25.
Shirley and Willie married in 1963, one year after 'Willingly' was released. It was a second marriage for both, as Shirley was first married to famed country radio deejay Biff Collie. Shirley and Willie divorced in 1971 and did not have any children together.
Willie Nelson on AOL Music
Reader Comments(1 of 1)
webshoes1at 1-29-2010
Is that the wife that sewed Willie into a bed sheet and beat him with a broom handle?
B.H. Lackeyat 1-29-2010
ah...I think you have him mixed up with someone else. Why don't you try to be a little more responsible. pee brain!
SUSICYQat 1-29-2010
Yes she is.She also set fire to his suit case of pop...
mthbwuat 1-29-2010
for all the girls ive loved before
kurt000111at 1-29-2010
Willie Nelson's never released verse of his song "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" :
....To all the girls I've loved before,
Who travelled in and out my door,
The didn't know of course,
That my true love was my horse,
not the girls I'd loved before !
YOU HEARD IT HERE, FOR THE FIRST TIME !!!!!!
2pottersat 1-29-2010
I'm sure Willie is thinking about the 9 year relationship; my condolences to him and her family.
Camilleat 1-29-2010
Just attended a Kris Kristofferson concert and he sang several of Willie's songs. They are all a small band of special singers with unique lives that touch us all with meaningful music.
SUSICYQat 1-29-2010
Sorry about that,I mean pot.