Martha Matthews: What happened to Willie Nelson's Ex-wife?

Martha Matthews happens to be the former spouse of American country musician, songwriter​, actor​, author, and activist Willie Nelson. Today, Martha’s ex-husband Willie Nelson is known to the world as one of the most recognized artists in country music. He has appeared in more than 30 films, co-authored numerous books, written several songs, and has been involved in activism. He is the co-chair of the advisory board of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).

Martha Matthews: Bio Summary

Where Is Willie Nelson’s Ex-wife Now?

Willie Nelson’s ex-wife Martha Matthews is no longer alive. She died on 29 November 1989, in Austin, Travis County, Texas, USA, at age 53. She died of liver failure. She was born on 3 April 1936, in Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas, USA. Martha Matthews is the daughter of William T Mathews and Etta Staggs Mathews. She has a sibling called Gerald Grady Bass. She went to school in Waco TX and was a Methodist.

Martha Matthews Was Married To Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson was in the U.S. Air Force, where he served for nine months. He was medically discharged because of problems with his back. Upon his return in 1952, that was when he married Martha Matthews. Martha was reportedly a 16-year-old waitress at the time.

Also Read: Susie Nelson- Everything About is Willie Nelson’s daughter

Martha Matthews and Willie Nelson’s union began looking all rosy and promising. They fell in love with each other shortly after they met. They were in a relationship for some time and after studying each other, Willie proposed to Martha.

Martha accepted to be Willie’s wife and they set a date for their wedding ceremony. They got married on October 27, 1952, in the presence of their loved ones. Martha becomes Willie Nelson’s first wife. The family moved to Pleasanton, Texas.

They welcomed three children: Lana Nelson, Billy Nelson, and Susie Nelson. After Billy was born in 1958, the family moved to Houston, Texas. However, after about a decade of marriage, their marriage ended in 1962.

ALSO, READ; Lana Nelson- Where is Willie Nelson’s daughter now?

What Did Martha Matthews Do To Her Ex-husband?

Martha Matthews and Willie Nelson’s union wasn’t a fairytale. They didn’t have a happy home. They quarreled on several occasions and their marriage was marked by violence. Martha assaulted her then-husband, Willie Nelson multiple times.

There was one incident when Martha Matthews sewed Willie Nelson up in bedsheets and beat him with a broomstick. Martha denied the story and claimed she used a kid’s jump rope instead of a blanket to tie her husband up.

Martha said, “One story everybody thinks they know about Willie and me is the one about me catching him passed out drunk and sewing him up in a bedsheet and then beating the hell out of him with a broom handle”.

Martha Matthews added, “For years I’ve been hearing and reading that story. People who’ve never so much as said hello to me or Willie tell that bedsheet story like they saw it with their own eyes. They just laugh and laugh, like, ‘hey, that Martha, she was one tough cookie, wasn’t she?’”

Also Read: Amy Lee Nelson- Everything About Willie Nelson’s Daughter

Martha Matthews continued, “How dumb would I have to be to try to sew Willie into a bedsheet?” “You know how long that would take to sit there and take stitch after stitch? The truth is, I tied him up with the kids’ jump ropes before I beat the hell out of him”.

Martha Matthews also stated,

“I scooted the jump ropes underneath him while he was asleep and knotted them up on top, and I tied him up as tight as I could. I started whipping Willie pretty good, and he commenced yelling, and I was crying and cussing. Oh, it was quite a commotion, but nothing our neighbors at Dunns Trailer Park in Nashville hadn’t heard coming out of our trailer before.”

What Happened To Martha Matthews’ Son?

Martha Matthews’ son Billy killed himself in 1991, at age 33. He was found dead after he reportedly hanged himself in his log cabin home in Davidson County, Tennessee.

ALSO, READ; Billy Nelson: How did Willie Nelson’s son die?

Billy Nelson’s death was ruled a suicide. After his son’s death, Willie Nelson told a friend, “I’ve never experienced anything so devastating in my life”, according to People. Billy was a musician. He lived mostly on an allowance from his father.

Billy Nelson had checked into a rehab center for his alcohol abuse. He had the intention to release an album of gospel tunes he’d write, including I Can Live Forever and My Body’s Just a Suitcase for my Soul.

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