Willie Nelson stays a rustic music powerhouse at 92, persevering with to carry out and join with followers after greater than seven many years within the highlight. The Texas native grew to become a family title with classics like “On the Highway Once more,” “To All of the Ladies I’ve Beloved Earlier than,” and “Pancho and Lefty,” and his legacy extends past music — he’s lengthy been a vocal advocate for farmers’ rights, marijuana legalization, and LGBTQ+ equality.
The life I like is makin’ music with my mates… Thanks for having us, Phoenix!
📷: Aubrey Smart pic.twitter.com/oQLI7BvYvb— Willie Nelson (@WillieNelson) Might 15, 2025
His private life has been simply as colourful. The Grammy winner has been married 4 instances — to Martha Matthews, Shirley Collie, Connie Koepke and his present spouse, Annie D’Angelo . “I’m not straightforward to reside with,” he admitted to Parade in 2010, reflecting on his a number of marriages. “I’ve been used to doing issues my very own method for thus lengthy that I’m not thinking about any strategies.”
Right here’s a better have a look at his ex-wives and his lasting relationship with Annie beneath.
Martha Matthews
When Willie was 19 years outdated and discharged from the Air Power because of again accidents, he met Martha, who was 16 on the time, per Sundown Blvd Information. They might go on to welcome three kids: Lana, Susie, and Willie Nelson Jr. However their residence was not a contented one, because the younger couple “quarreled, brawled, and drank closely,” per Parade. The connection grew to become so risky, Martha as soon as tied up Willie in a blanket and beat him with a broomstick, based on the Los Angeles Instances. Martha denied the story, saying she used a child’s bounce rope as an alternative of a blanket to tie Willie up.
They break up in 1962, and based on the Orlando Sentinel, Martha died in 1989 on the age of 53.
Shirley Collie
In 1963, Willie took Shirley for his second bride. Shirley had a profitable profession as a rockabilly singer, yodeler, guitarist and songwriter. The couple would even usually tour collectively. Nonetheless, divorce was imminent after Shirley discovered a invoice from the maternity ward of a Houston hospital saying Willie had fathered a child with one other girl, Connie Koepke. “The invoice mentioned the costs had been for the beginning of a child lady, Paula Carlene, born to a Mrs. Connie Nelson,” Willie recalled in his memoir 2020 “Me and Sister Bobbie: True Tales of the Household Band,” through Folks. “Shirley needed to know who within the hell was Connie Nelson. Couldn’t lie. Was caught flatfooted. Needed to get the phrases out of my mouth. ‘Connie’s my girlfriend and Paula’s our daughter.’”
Willie and Shirley divorced in 1971. She died in 2010 on the age of 78.
Connie Koepke
In the identical yr he divorced Shirley, Willie made an trustworthy girl out of Connie. Two years later, they welcomed one other daughter named Amy. Their 16-year marriage would deliver Willie again to his residence state of Texas, the place he felt he was might join together with his followers once more. “I actually felt like I wanted to be in Texas taking part in to the folks that had been and nonetheless are my base,” he instructed Parade. The love affair wouldn’t survive Willie’s affairs, although, they usually bid adieu in 1988. “I tousled one other marriage. My wandering methods had been an excessive amount of for any girl to place up with,” he admitted in his memoir.
Annie D’Angelo
Willie met make-up artist Annie in 1986 whereas engaged on the movie Stagecoach. “Within the mid-eighties I fell head over heels in love with Ann Marie D’Angelo, known as Annie. By no means had met a girl like her earlier than,” he wrote in his memoir. The pair married in 1991, and Annie shortly proved to be a gentle and grounding presence in his life.
“There was friction with my different wives. But it surely looks like Annie and I did OK with one another. It takes a particular particular person to reside with me,” he instructed Parade. Greater than three many years later, the couple stay fortunately married.
