Shirley Watts: Widow of Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, dies at 84

Charlie Watts' late wife Shirley Ann Shepherd Watts passed away on Friday, December 16. She was 84.

"Shirley died peacefully on Friday 16th December in Devon after a short illness surrounded by her family," her family announced on Monday.

Prior to his passing in 2021, Charlie and Shirley dated for more than 50 years after meeting before he joined the storied band.

Ronnie Wood shared a tribute to Shirley on Facebook, and wrote, "Sally and I are very sad to hear about the death of our friend Shirley Watts. We will miss you so much, but take comfort that you are reunited with your beloved Charlie."

Shirley and Charlie were wed for 57 years before Charlie passed away in August 2021. In March 2022, Keith Richards reported that his late bandmate had passed away following a protracted fight with cancer.

According to rumors, Watts had one regret about living in the spotlight.

"The one regret I have of this life is that I was never home enough," Watts once said about his wife of nearly 60 years, Shirley Shepherd, according to Vulture. "But she always says when I come off tour that I am a nightmare and tells me to go back out."

In "According to the Rolling Stones," Watts also said that his wife was a much bigger fan of the band than he had ever been.

"My wife and daughter may come out on tour, but Shirley's always had other things outside of this band," he wrote. "She's a great fan of the Stones, though. I'm not; it's what I do. Mick and Keith and Ronnie are my friends and the band is a very good one, but that's it. But Shirley actually plays our records. I don't."

Charlie was widely considered one of the best rock drummers of all time and was a member of both the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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