Country Music Star Helen Cornelius Passes Away at 83
Helen Cornelius, a cherished voice in classic country music, has passed away at the age of 83. The news was shared by her official fan page, which confirmed that she died on the morning of July 18.
Born on December 6, 1941, in Missouri, Helen was one of eight children raised by Joseph and Lu Elsie Johnson on a family farm. From a young age, it was clear Helen had a gift for music—she began performing publicly at just five years old and won numerous talent contests as a child.
While she eventually became known for her powerful vocals, Cornelius first gained recognition in the music industry as a songwriter. Her songs were recorded by big names like The Oak Ridge Boys and Reba McEntire, helping to establish her name in Nashville.
In 1975, Cornelius signed a recording deal with RCA Records, launching the most notable phase of her career. She soon teamed up with country singer Jim Ed Brown, and together, they created a string of hits that earned them widespread acclaim. Their 1976 duet, “I Don’t Want to Have to Marry You,” topped the country charts and led to the duo winning the CMA Award for Vocal Duo of the Year in 1977. In 1979, they received a GRAMMY nomination for “If the World Ran Out of Love Tonight.”
Cornelius spent four years performing on Brown’s syndicated radio show and became a familiar face on Nashville on the Road, a popular country music television series. In 1980, she stepped into the spotlight as a solo artist and formed her own band, Southern Spirit. Throughout her solo career, she toured with country legends such as Conway Twitty and The Statler Brothers.
In the early ’90s, Cornelius took her talents to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, where she opened her own dinner theater. For five years, she performed live shows for guests each night, offering a mix of classic country and personal favorites. “I loved getting to sing different songs each night, take requests, and do such a variety of music,” she once said. “I also loved hiking the mountains and becoming a part of the beautiful Smoky Mountains.”
In 2005, she was honored with an induction into the Missouri Country Music Hall of Fame, a recognition of her lasting impact on the genre. Even into the early 2000s, she continued performing and connecting with fans around the country.
Cornelius once reflected, “Belief in oneself is probably the most important ingredient to success… If you believe in yourself, then nothing is gonna knock you down.”
Her legacy lives on through her music, her message, and the many lives she touched both on and off the stage.