Sewn Into Bed Sheets: The Shocking True Story Of Willie Nelson's First Wife, Martha Matthews

The tumultuous first marriage of country music legend Willie Nelson remains one of the most explosive chapters in his long, storied life. While Nelson has been married four times, his decade-long union with Martha Matthews—who he met when she was just 16—was marked by passion, poverty, and violent confrontations that defined his early career. As of December 2025, the story of this volatile relationship continues to resurface in documentaries and his own memoirs, painting a vivid picture of the "Red Headed Stranger's" chaotic beginnings.

The tale of Martha Matthews is not just a footnote in Willie Nelson's biography; it is a profound, and at times, tragic narrative of a woman who was married to a rising star before he achieved global fame. Their relationship, which produced three children, was a whirlwind of the road life, infidelity, and fierce love that ultimately ended in a messy and unforgettable divorce.

Martha Matthews: A Complete Biography and Profile

Martha Jewel Matthews was the first woman to marry the man who would become the iconic country legend, Willie Nelson. Their relationship, which began when Nelson was discharged from the Air Force, was the foundation of his family life before he became a household name. She is often remembered for her fiery temper and the dramatic confrontations that characterized their marriage.

• The Enduring Legacy Of Haylor 5 Shocking Facts About Harry Styles And Taylor Swifts Relationship 10 Years Later Sf662

• Full Name: Martha Jewel Matthews (later Nelson, Scott, Andrews)
• Born: Circa 1935/1936
• Died: December 1989 (Age 53)
• Cause of Death: Liver Failure
• First Marriage (Willie Nelson): October 27, 1952 – 1962 (Divorced)
• Children with Willie Nelson: Lana Nelson Fowler, Susie Nelson, and Willie "Billy" Hugh Jr. Nelson
• Second Husband: Mickey Scott (Had two additional children)
• Third Husband: Charlie (Last name unknown)

The Tempestuous Decade: Marriage to the Teenage Sweetheart

Willie Nelson and Martha Matthews met in a bar in Fort Worth, Texas, when he was 19 and she was just 16. Despite her mother's strong disapproval due to their young ages, the couple eloped and married in 1952. This early marriage coincided with Nelson's struggle to break into the music industry, a period marked by constant financial strain and his long stretches away from home as he tried to secure gigs. The instability of this early road life, combined with Nelson's admitted infidelities, created a highly volatile home environment.

The Infamous Broomstick Incident

The most famous, and most often cited, anecdote of their tumultuous relationship comes directly from Willie Nelson's own autobiographies, including his 2020 memoir, *Me and Sister Bobbie: True Tales of the Family Band*. In a fit of rage over his drinking and womanizing, Martha took extreme measures to confront her husband.

According to Nelson’s account, Martha once sewed him into the bedsheets while he was asleep, trapping him completely. She then proceeded to beat him with a broomstick, an act that Nelson recounts with a mix of humor and acknowledgment of the seriousness of the situation. This incident is often used to illustrate the fierce intensity of their marriage and the deep frustration Martha felt over her husband's lifestyle as a struggling musician.

• The Unseen Story Jessica Simpsons Battle For Privacy And Body Image In A Digital Age Mlvqa

The Final Straw: Shirley Collie and Divorce

The marriage officially ended in 1962, largely due to Willie Nelson's chronic infidelity. The final straw came when Martha discovered Nelson's relationship with his future second wife, singer Shirley Collie. The discovery was reportedly dramatic: Collie was working at a radio station and had sent a hospital bill to Nelson's home, addressed to "Mrs. Willie Nelson." Martha, upon opening the bill, realized her husband had been cheating on her. The couple divorced shortly thereafter, marking the end of the first of Nelson's four marriages.

Life After Willie: Martha Matthews’ Later Years and Tragic End

Following her divorce from the country star, Martha Matthews moved on and attempted to build a more stable life for herself. She married twice more: first to a man named Mickey Scott, with whom she had two additional children, and later to a man named Charlie. Despite finding new love, her life was cut tragically short.

Martha Matthews died in December 1989 at the age of 53. Her official cause of death was liver failure. Her passing preceded another immense tragedy that would rock the Nelson family just two years later.

• The One Where They Tanked Jokes 15 Shocking New Secrets From The Friends Tv Show Behind The Scenes G9zdh

The Tragic Loss of Billy Nelson

The most heartbreaking footnote to Martha and Willie's relationship is the premature death of their son, Willie "Billy" Hugh Jr. Nelson. Billy, who had followed his father into the music business, died by suicide on Christmas Day in 1991 at the age of 33. The loss was devastating for Willie Nelson, who was reportedly in Hawaii at the time and was immediately flown to Nashville for the funeral. Billy's death, which occurred two years after his mother's passing, remains a deeply painful memory for the entire Nelson family.

Lana and Susie Nelson: Carrying the Legacy

Martha Matthews' two daughters with Willie Nelson, Lana Nelson Fowler and Susie Nelson, have remained active in preserving the family's legacy and maintaining a close relationship with their famous father. Lana Nelson Fowler is known for her work in the family business, and she published a book titled *Heart Worn Memories: A Daughter's Personal Biography of Willie Nelson*, offering an intimate look at her father's life. Susie Nelson has also been involved in music and media, notably co-hosting *Susie's Gospel Hour*, continuing the family's deep ties to Texas and country music culture.

The story of Willie Nelson and Martha Matthews is a powerful reminder that behind the glamour of a country music icon lies a complex and often painful personal history. Their decade together was foundational to the legend, shaping the man and the songs that would eventually captivate the world, even if it came at a high personal cost to his first wife and their children.