Country Music Legend Helen Cornelius Has Died

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Helen Cornelius with Jim Ed Brown


Her duets with Country Music Hall of Famer Jim Ed Brown topped the charts in the mid ’70s and early ’80s numerous times, while she enjoyed her own solo career that lasted many years and included many cherished appearances on RFD-TV’s Country Family Reunion and the Grand Ole Opry. Now the country music family is saying goodbye to one of the genre’s most cherished champions and duet partners. Helen Cornelius has passed away at the age of 83.

Singing country music was always the passion of Helen Cornelius, born Helen Lorene Johnson on December 6th, 1941. But it would take some time and a winding road before she would find herself on the top of the country charts, and winning CMA Awards. It started in humble beginnings on a farm outside on Monroe City, Missouri, pop. 2,500. While still in school, she formed a signing trio with her two sisters Judy and Sharon, and toured locally in between class assignments and farm duties. Later, Helen struck out on her own with a backing band called The Crossroads.

After marrying, Cornelius was employed as a secretary for a while, but music kept calling. In the early ’70s, she was touring as a performer and trying to launch a music career, both as a songwriter and a performer. She initially signed with a company called Screen Gems Music that went out-of-business. She then signed with Columbia Records, and later RCA Records, releasing singles with these labels, but none of which gained much traction. Everyone recognized the talent, but couldn’t figure out where the voice of Helen Cornelius fit.

That all changed when Jim Ed Brown and producer Bob Ferguson were looking for a duet partner for the song “I Don’t Want to Have to Marry You.” Singed to RCA at the time himself, Jim Ed was matched with Helen, and magic ensued. The song went straight to #1 in 1976, and would inspired a string of top country hits, five albums pairing the two, and revitalized the careers of both of the country performers.


The followup single by Jim Ed and Helen called “Saying Hello, Saying I Love You, Saying Goodbye” hit #2 in 1976. They had subsequent Top 10 hits with “If the World Ran Out of Love Tonight” (1978), a cover of “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” (1978), “Lying in Love with You” (1979), “Fools” (1979), and “Morning Comes Too Early” (1980). Their debut album on RCA also hit the Top 10.

“Lying in Love with You” was also one of the first major hits for songwriter Dean Dillon, and is credited with helping to launch Dillon’s career. In 1977, Helen Cornelius and Jim Ed Brown won the CMA’s Vocal Duo of the Year. The pair was also nominated for a Grammy award for “If the World Ran Out of Love Tonight.”

Despite all the success as a duet partner, Helen Cornelius continued to struggle to launch a big solo career. She did have a top 30 hit with her song “Whatcha Doin’ After Midnight, Baby” from 1978, but as singles stalled, labels put the brakes on releasing solo albums from her.

Nonetheless, Cornelius persevered, and continued to find success as a live performer into the ’80s. She toured as an opening act for The Statler Brothers, and in 1985, DOT finally released a self-titled album for Helen. She also performed in the traveling play, Annie Get Your Gun for a period. In 1988, Cornelius reunited with Jim Ed Brown for a big nationwide tour.

Though the hits stopped coming, Helen Corneius was considered a legend in traditional country music circles. She opened a venue in Gatlinburg, Tennessee called “Nashville South,” and performed there regularly, eventually moving the show to Branson in her home state where she would appear regularly at the Jim Stafford Theater. As a regular on RFD’s Country’s Family Reunion, she continued to remain close with her fellow country legends, many who left remembrances at the news of her passing.

Bobby Tomberlin remarked, “During my time as a sound engineer with Bill Anderson, Helen was part of many package shows we worked, and she was always incredibly kind and gracious.”

David Frizzell says, “Our hearts are so heavy at the loss of our friend Helen Cornelius. We laughed together, sang together, toured together, recorded together…we will miss her love and EXTREME Talent!”

Helen Cornelius passed away on Friday, July 18th.

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