Willie Nelson Got Caught Cheating When She Saw A Hospital Bill For A Child That Wasn’t Hers

Country music icon Willie Nelson has led a highly controversial life with many wild stories to his credit, ranging from an account of how he came to be known as “Shotgun Willie” to the legend of his extended 9-hour sexual escapade.

Nelson has experienced marital fortunes and self-driven misfortunes as he has been married four times, first to Martha Matthews (1952 to 1962), Shirley Collie (1963 to 1971), Connie Koepke (1971 to 1988), and, in 1991 to Annie D’Angelo. However, his first three marriages crashed because of infidelity, except for his union with D’Angelo, which is ongoing.

Willie Nelson recounts his infidelity during his marriage to his second wife, Shirley Collie

Nelson doesn’t hesitate to acknowledge that he was never the ideal husband. In the 2020 joint memoir, Me and Sister Bobbie: True Tales of the Family Band, co-authored by Nelson and his sister Bobbie, the 90-year-old musician reflected on his marriages and detailed his experience with infidelity. He recounted the pivotal moment when his second wife, Shirley Collie, discovered he fathered a child with another woman.

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“Shirley saw a bill from a Houston hospital. I tried to play it off as no big deal. I told her that I had to go to the hospital for something minor,” Nelson wrote. “Shirley wasn’t buying that for one simple reason: The bill said the charges were for the birth of a baby girl, Paula Carlene, born to a Mrs. Connie Nelson.” Nelson further revealed that when he discovered his game was up, he came out clean, leading to the divorce between him and Collie in 1971.

Willie Nelson says marrying Annie D’Angelo was the best decision he ever made

The singer shared his remorse regarding the outcomes of all his past marriages, especially his second. “I messed up another marriage. My wandering ways were too much for any woman to put up with. I’ll always love Connie. I’ll always love all my wives,” Nelson confessed. “I’ve always said that there’s no such thing as a ‘former’ wife. Once in your life, a wife never leaves. I regret the pain I caused Connie… and Martha and Shirley before her… and have no excuses.”

However, Nelson asserted that he found love with D’Angelo and that marrying her was his best choice. “Love is love. And in the mid-eighties, I fell head over heels in love with Ann Marie D’Angelo, called Annie,” he admitted. “Never had met a woman like her before. Marrying Annie wasn’t complicated at all. It’s about the smartest thing I ever did. I can say that because, 34 years after we first met, we’re still together and going strong.”