Willie Nelson has been married four times, but honestly, it’s that fourth one that really stuck. If you're asking who is Willie Nelson's wife, you're looking for Annie D'Angelo. She isn't just a name on a marriage certificate; at this point, she’s basically the reason the Red Headed Stranger is still out there on the road at 92 years old.
They’ve been married since 1991. That’s over three decades of living with a man who admits he is "not easy to live with." Most people know Willie for the braids and the weed, but behind the scenes, Annie is the one keeping the wheels from falling off the bus—literally and figuratively.
How They Met: It Wasn't Exactly a Fairytale
The year was 1986. Willie was filming a TV movie called Stagecoach with his buddies Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings. Annie D'Angelo was the makeup artist on set. She was 30; he was 53.
The story goes that they actually bonded over his hair. She was the one who insisted he shouldn't have to cut those famous braids for the role. It’s kinda funny to think that the foundation of a 30-plus-year marriage started with a conversation about hair care.
But it wasn't a "love at first sight" situation where they ran off into the sunset. Willie was still married to his third wife, Connie Koepke, at the time. Annie wasn't about to be a side chick. She made it clear that if he wanted to be with her, he had to be "truly free." Willie eventually divorced Connie in 1988, and by 1991, he and Annie were making it official in Nashville.
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The Woman Who Tamed the Outlaw
Before Annie, Willie’s track record was, well, a bit of a wreck.
- Martha Matthews: His first wife. This is the one where the famous story comes from—she supposedly sewed him into a bedsheet and beat him with a broomstick after he came home late.
- Shirley Collie: His second wife. She found out about his affair with Connie (who would become wife number three) when a hospital bill for the birth of a baby girl named Paula showed up in the mail. Yikes.
- Connie Koepke: They stayed together for about 17 years, but the road and the lifestyle eventually tore it down.
Then came Annie. Willie has called her his "pet rattler," his "nurse, doctor, and bodyguard." She didn't just join his life; she reorganized it. When the IRS came after Willie for millions in the early '90s, Annie was there. When he caught COVID-19 in 2022 and things looked dicey, she turned their house into a literal hospital to keep him alive.
Life in Maui and Spicewood
These days, the couple splits their time between a ranch in Spicewood, Texas, and a home in Maui, Hawaii. It’s not just a retirement plan; it’s a lifestyle. Annie is the one who got him into biking and swimming to keep his lungs healthy. She even helped him cut back on the bacon, which, for a Texas legend, is no small feat.
They have two sons together, Lukas and Micah. If you’ve seen Willie perform lately, you’ve probably seen them. They are world-class musicians in their own right. Annie managed to raise them in the middle of the whirlwind of fame while keeping them remarkably grounded.
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She also has her own thing going. In 2017, she launched a line of infused chocolates under the Willie’s Reserve brand. She’s savvy. She saw the business potential and made sure the quality was actually there.
Why Their Marriage Works
In a recent 2026 interview with The New Yorker, Annie joked that Willie is "Benjamin Buttoning" her. Even at 92, he’s got more energy than people half his age, and she’s right there keeping pace.
Willie credits their success to one simple thing: laughter. He’s said that they just "do okay with each other." It sounds simple, but after three failed marriages and a century of life, "doing okay" is actually a massive achievement.
Annie stays out of the spotlight for the most part. She isn't chasing fame or looking for a reality show. She’s just the steady hand on the rudder.
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What You Should Know About Annie D'Angelo
- Background: She was a professional Hollywood makeup artist (worked on Bachelor Party and The Rosary Murders).
- The Glue: She managed to blend Willie's complicated family, which includes eight children from different relationships.
- The Health Factor: She is credited with keeping Willie physically fit enough to continue his Outlaw Music Festival tours well into his 90s.
- Business Mind: She runs the "Annie’s Edibles" side of the family cannabis empire.
If you’re looking to follow the Nelson family's journey, keep an eye on Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real. They often post updates that give a glimpse into the family dynamic. Also, Willie’s memoir Me and Sister Bobbie gives a really raw look at how Annie changed his life when things were at their messiest.
The takeaway here is that behind every legendary outlaw, there’s usually someone much smarter and tougher making sure the bus actually makes it to the next city. For Willie, that’s Annie.
To get a better sense of their life together, you can check out Willie's official website or follow his sons on social media, where Annie occasionally makes a rare, smiling appearance in the background of a family jam session.