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Willie Nelson Biography, Wife, Net Worth, Children, How Old is He, Is He Dead?
Willie Nelson is the legendary country singer and songwriter who burst into the limelight in the late ’60s. Some of his most popular and career-defining songs are: “Pretty Paper”, “Crazy”, “Funny How Time Slips Away” and “Hello Walls”. His work was influential in the development of the outlaw country subgenre, which fought Nashville’s conservatism. Now well into his 80s he is still strong and alive, constantly recording and touring and impacting life through various political and charitable causes. He’s an old champion who only wants to quit when he stops breathing.
Willie Nelson’s Brief Biography – Dude
Willie Hugh Nelson was born in Abbot, Texas during the Great Depression on April 29, 1933. His birth parents’ names are Myrle Nelson and Ira D. Nelson. Willie only has one sister named Bobbie and both grew up with their paternal grandparents who practically raised them. He was first introduced to music as a child by accompanying his grandmother to a small Methodist church in her town. Because he had such a melodious voice, he was given the opportunity to lead as often as possible. Moreso, his parents were also musically inclined and encouraged him and his sister to play as many instruments as possible.
His very first song was composed when he was only seven years old and when he was ten he joined his first band. He began touring locally with the band called the Bohemians when he was a high school student and after graduating in 1950 he joined the Air Force. Nelson was later released as a result of incessant back pain. After leaving the Air Force, he matriculated at Baylor University, but due to his growing fame and success in his music career, he decided to drop out.
Music career and other projects
After leaving university he found work on a number of Texas radio stations as a singer and disc jockey. In 1956 he moved to Vancouver, Washington, where he was inspired to write one of his earliest hits. “Family Bible.” In 1958, Willie was signed to D Records, prompting him to move to his new apartment in Houston, Texas. As a newly hired artist, he had to work both as a DJ and as a singer in the Esquire ballroom. More songs were also written around this time that became national standards, including “Funny How Time Slips Away”, “Hello Walls”, “Pretty Paper” and “Crazy”.
He later signed a contract with Pamper Music In 1960 he moved to Nashville, Tennessee. By 1962 his first album And Then I Wrote was released to critical acclaim. He had several mid-chart hits from the ’60s through the early ’70s, after which he decided to relocate to Austin, Texas in 1972 to retire from showbiz. That decision was short-lived, however, after he discovered a vibrant music scene in Texas. He has released 72 albums to date with Shotgun Willie (1973), Red-Headed Stranger (1975), Stardust (1978) and What a Wonderful World (1988) was his most successful album to date.
Willie Nelson Net Worth (Income and Earnings)
With a career spanning decades and an active career growing into old age, Willie Nelson deserves all the wealth he has amassed to date. Willie is an extremely creative, enthusiastic and energetic musician who occasionally tours with his band. This sure helped boost his net worth, which is currently estimated to be around $15 million.
Family – wife, children
It would have been quite surprising if WillieNelson wasn’t married. Also, it might not surprise you that the songwriter and musician has been married a total of four times! Martha Matthew was his very first wife, with whom he tied the knot in 1952. They only stayed together for 10 years before splitting in 1962. While they were together they had three adorable children including Willie “Billy” Hugh, Lena, Susie. Unfortunately, her son Billy committed suicide in 1991. The marriage, which began like most marriages, reportedly later soured when Martha began attacking Nelson. In one of the incidents, Martha sewed Nelson between the sheets while he was sleeping and then beat him up with a broomstick.
After leaving his first wife, he began dating Shirley Collie and the couple walked down the aisle in 1963. Nevertheless, the divorce followed in 1971. The reason for this divorce was the discovery that Collie made when she suddenly came across a bill from a maternity ward. The bill came from a Houston hospital, billing Nelson and a mystery woman named “Connie Koepke” for delivering a child named “Paula Carlene Nelson” to the child while he was still married to Collie.
That same year (1971), Willie married his baby mom, Paula Carlene Nelson. They then had another child named Amy Lee Nelson and in 1988 that marriage ended as did the previous ones and Willie married his fourth wife, Annie D’Angelo, in 1991. Their union produced two healthy and hearty boys, Lukas Autry and Jacob Micah. In all, Willie fathered seven children by four women.
Is he dead?
Given that Willie was born in his early 40s, one might be tempted to think he kicked the bucket. Moreso, the recent surge in death rumors among celebrities young and old has led most people to believe it when news of a celebrity’s death breaks.
Regarding Willie Nelson, the fact is that in the early hours of August 3, 2017, social media reported the death of the singer. However, it quickly turned out that this is one of the everyday jokes that are common these days. The real problem was that Nelson just had bronchitis, which is treatable. Interestingly, he laughed about it and even recorded a song he co-wrote with Buddy Cannon. The song was titled, “Still Not Dead.”
