Helen Cornelius

Helen Lorene Cornelius ( Johnson; December 6, 1941 – July 18, 2025), was an American country singer-songwriter, best remembered for a series of hit duets with Jim Ed Brown, many of which reached the U.S. country singles top ten during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Life and career Helen Cornelius was born in Hannibal, Missouri, on December 6, 1941, and was raised on a farm near Monroe City, Missouri. Her older brothers played in country bands, and she formed a singing trio with sisters Judy and Sharon.

Discography Albums Year Album Label 1985 Helen Cornelius Dot

Albums with Jim Ed Brown Year Album Chart Positions Label US Country CAN Country 1976 I Don't Want to Have to Marry You 7 — RCA Victor 1977 Born Believer 17 — 1978 I'll Never Be Free 29 — 1979 You Don't Bring Me Flowers 20 2 1980 One Man, One Woman 35 — 1981 Greatest Hits 47 —

Singles Year Single Chart Positions Album US Country CAN Country 1976 "There's Always a Goodbye" 91 — I Don't Want to Have to Marry You 1978 "Whatcha Doin' After Midnight, Baby" 30 68 Singles only 1979 "It Started with a Smile" 68 — 1981 "Love Never Comes Easy" 42 40 1983 "If Your Heart's a Rollin' Stone" 70 —

Singles with Jim Ed Brown Year Single Chart Positions Album US Country CAN Country 1976 "I Don't Want to Have to Marry You" 1 7 I Don't Want to Have to Marry You "Saying Hello, Saying I Love You, Saying Goodbye" 2 1 1977 "Born Believer" 12 8 Born Believer "If It Ain't Love by Now" 12 18 "Fall Softly Snow" 91 — Single only 1978 "I'll Never Be Free" 11 27 I'll Never Be Free "If the World Ran Out of Love Tonight" 6 7 You Don't Bring Me Flowers "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" 10 8 1979 "Lying in Love with You" 2 3 "Fools" 3 14 One Man, One Woman 1980 "Morning Comes Too Early" 5 46 "The Bedroom" 24 26 Greatest Hits 1981 "Don't Bother to Knock" 13 48

Music videos Year Video 1990 "Ask Any Woman"