Helen Cornelius, noted country performer, dies

Helen Cornelius, circa 2012

Photo source, Wikipedia

MARY LOU MONTGOMERY

These days, if you take a memory stroll around town with some of Hannibal’s seasoned country music fans, you’ll likely hear the name Helen Cornelius pop up in conversation.

Helen Johnson Cornelius, a Monroe City native and former Hannibal resident, died on July 18, 2025, at the age of 83.

Born in 1941, her early career took her on the county fair/church social circuit in both Illinois and Missouri, singing songs that she wrote herself, as well as other popular country hits.

Her rise to fame is associated with the Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour, which launched in 1959. She won top honors on this show three times circa 1970.

She subsequently signed a music contract and moved to Nashville with her family in 1976.

“She was nationally famous after that,” said George Roberson of Hannibal, who at one time played lead guitar for her band.

Roberson added, “She possessed the kind of magic that pleased the people.”

Nashville

Soon after relocating to Nashville, Cornelius became associated vocally with country singer Jim Ed Brown. (1934-2015)

In 1976, they recorded the chart topper, “I Don’t Want to Have to Marry You.”

Their next duet,"Saying Hello, Saying I Love You, Saying Goodbye,” was also a hit. Cornelius and Brown subsequently became performers on “Nashville on the Road.”

Other songs recorded with Brown include:  "I'll Never Be Free,” "If the World Ran Out of Love Tonight,” "Don't Bother to Knock,” and "Lying in Love with You.”

In 1977, Cornelius and Brown won the CMA’s Vocal Duo of the Year award.

Wikipedia reports that her marriage to Lewis Cornelius ended in 1980.

Jim Ed and Helen quit recording together in 1981, following a much-publicized split.

Neighbors

When Helen Johnson Cornelius and her then-husband, Lewis, were a young married couple, in the 1960s, they moved into a rental house on Fulton Avenue, “four houses down from us,” said Deborah Roberson White, George Roberson’s younger sister.

“Later, (Lewis and Helen) bought a house in back of us (at 720 Hickory St.) and raised their kids there.

“She sang at my wedding in 1969,” said White, who now lives near Nashville.

Their paths were destined to cross again.

“My husband and I moved to his hometown of Princeton, Ill. We became involved in a charitable organization, and I booked Helen and (her then musical duet partner,) Jim Ed Brown for a fundraiser. It was a packed house.”

White ultimately moved to Nashville. She associated with a monthly luncheon group, and when she first attended, she realized that the attendees were women who had performed upon the Grand Ole Opry stage.

Attending the luncheon was none other than Helen Cornelius.

“No one was more surprised than me when we reconnected” at that luncheon, White said.

“I met a lot of lovely ladies there who sang at the Opry for years and years. Helen was the most successful, commercially, who came to the luncheons.”

After that, “I’d see her around town off and on.”

According to Wikipedia, early in the 2000s, Cornelius relocated to Branson, Mo., where she performed regularly at the Jim Stafford Theater. She later was a participant in the the Country's Family Reunion series, which airs on RFD-TV.

Memories

George White’s fondest memory of performing with Cornelius dates back to a show at Hannibal High School, sponsored by the Jaycees circa 1972.

He remembers the participating performers: Stan Hitchcock; Jamey Ryan from the Del Reeves show; Lonzo and Oscar; “and I believe Ray Pillow from the Grand Ole Opry came up that night.

“Jack Terry was president of the Jaycees,” Roberson said. After the performance, Terry told Helen, ‘You have given people their money’s worth; it was fantastic.’

“That was a testament to her super ability to please the people,” Roberson said. “She had a magic about her.”