The Ballad Of Shirley Collins May 2026

In 1978, Collins's life and career took a tragic turn. Following a traumatic marriage breakdown—where her husband abruptly left her for another woman—Collins developed , a condition that caused her throat to physically lock up.

After decades of silence, Collins was coaxed back into the studio by friends and fellow musicians like David Tibet of Current 93. The Ballad of Shirley Collins

: The 2017 feature film The Ballad of Shirley Collins chronicles this remarkable comeback, juxtaposing her modern recording sessions with footage and stories from her 1959 trip with Lomax. In 1978, Collins's life and career took a tragic turn

: At age 80, she released Lodestar , her first new material in 38 years. The recording took place at her home in Lewes to help manage her lingering nerves. : The 2017 feature film The Ballad of

She has since continued to record and perform, releasing further albums such as Heart's Ease and Archangel Hill , cementing her status as the "first lady" of English folk. The Ballad of Shirley Collins (2017) - IMDb