Willie Nelson Reveals Ex-Wife Shirley Collie Discovered His Longtime Affair After His Mistress Gave Birth

One of Willie Nelson’s eight children was a total surprise for his then-wife. In the new four-part Paramount+ documentary Willie Nelson & Family, the country legend revealed that his ex-wife Shirley Collie discovered his decades-long affair when a hospital bill revealed that his mistress, Connie Koepke, had given birth to their daughter, Paula Carlene.

The 1969 Houston hospital bill listed “Mrs. Connie Nelson,” leaving Shirley stunned: “Who in the hell was Connie Nelson?!” Willie admitted, “Connie had been my girlfriend for several years before becoming pregnant.”

Connie reflected on the time, saying she never expected to get pregnant but quickly bonded with Willie’s older children. Willie and Connie later married in 1971 and had a second child, Amy. Paula shared that blending families wasn’t easy at first, but Willie brought everyone together into one “big tribe.”

The documentary also revisits Willie’s earlier relationships, including his marriage to Shirley, and highlights both his career highs and personal struggles. He is now married to Annie D’Angelo, with whom he has two children, Lukas and Micah, and discovered in 2012 that he had another daughter, Renee.

All four episodes of Willie Nelson & Family are streaming now on Paramount+.