Shirley Collie Nelson, Former Wife of Willie Nelson, Dies at 78
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.

Loretta Lynn Saluted for 50 Fabulous Years in Music
It was 50 years ago that Loretta Lynn sang her way into America's heart with 'Honky Tonk Girl,' the first single by the soon-to-be country star. The now country music icon kicks off that 50th anniversary in a big way this weekend, when she receives a special GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award in an invitation-only ceremony in Los Angeles.

Held this Saturday -- the eve of the GRAMMY awards, the honor is given to performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording. Other luminaries who have been awarded this honor include Roy Acuff, Louis Armstrong, Joan Baez, Johnny Cash, Barbra Streisand, Perry Como, Bob Dylan and Frank Sinatra.

Stories from The Boot .

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