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Renowned musician, yodeler, song writer, actress, author and Chillicothe native Shirley Nelson, of Springfield, Mo., passed away at the age of 78, on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010 at Cox South Medical Center in Springfield.
Shirley was best known as Country Music legend Willie Nelson’s second wife, but she also made quite a career on her own. She spent her lifetime in the music industry and wrote many songs, including “Once More With Feeling”, which was recorded by Glen Campbell and went all the way to No. 1 on the hits chart. She also had many more songs that were on the charts.
Shirley’s career started at the age of 14 when she was hired to replace Sue on the “Millie and Sue” show, which aired on KMBC radio in Kansas City, Mo. She later joined the televised Red Foley show called “Ozark Jubilee.” As her career evolved, she was among many rising musicians that became well know artists including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash and Barbara Fairchild.
After “Ozark Jubilee”, Shirley went on the road with the “Phillip Morris Show” and performed and befriended Patsy Cline and Little Jimmy Dickens. She also met Biff Collie, a Hall of Fame disc jockey from California. She would marry Collie and move to California where she joined the televised “Country America” show. While in California, she was selected to be on the “Groucho Marx Show”, which she said was a riot. She also auditioned for the hit show “Beverly Hillbillies”, and was hired to play Aunt Bea; however she never played the role because she ran off with Willie Nelson.
Renowned musician, yodeler, song writer, actress, author and Chillicothe native Shirley Nelson, of Springfield, Mo., passed away at the age of 78, on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010 at Cox South Medical Center in Springfield.
Shirley was best known as Country Music legend Willie Nelson’s second wife, but she also made quite a career on her own. She spent her lifetime in the music industry and wrote many songs, including “Once More With Feeling”, which was recorded by Glen Campbell and went all the way to No. 1 on the hits chart. She also had many more songs that were on the charts.
Shirley’s career started at the age of 14 when she was hired to replace Sue on the “Millie and Sue” show, which aired on KMBC radio in Kansas City, Mo. She later joined the televised Red Foley show called “Ozark Jubilee.” As her career evolved, she was among many rising musicians that became well know artists including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash and Barbara Fairchild.
After “Ozark Jubilee”, Shirley went on the road with the “Phillip Morris Show” and performed and befriended Patsy Cline and Little Jimmy Dickens. She also met Biff Collie, a Hall of Fame disc jockey from California. She would marry Collie and move to California where she joined the televised “Country America” show. While in California, she was selected to be on the “Groucho Marx Show”, which she said was a riot. She also auditioned for the hit show “Beverly Hillbillies”, and was hired to play Aunt Bea; however she never played the role because she ran off with Willie Nelson.
