Shirley Kyles is best known as the ex-wife of famous singer Al Green. But her life was about more than her marriage. She was also a gospel singer and a mother who faced many hard times in life.
She married Al Green in 1977. They had three daughters together. Their marriage had many problems and ended in 1983. Shirley later shared her sad story to help other women who had faced abuse at home.
Many people want to know more about Shirley Kyles. Who was she before meeting Al Green? How did they fall in love? Here we will look at her early life and family. We will also explore her music career and wedding.
Shirley Kyles Quick Bio
| Full Name | Shirley Anne Watts Kyles Green |
| Known As | Shirley Kyles |
| Birth Year | Around 1948 |
| Birthday | July 28 reported |
| Age | About 78 in 2026 |
| Birthplace | United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African American |
| Religion | Christian |
| Profession | Gospel singer |
| Famous For | Al Green’s ex-wife |
| Ex-Husband | Al Green |
| Marriage | 1977–1983 |
| Children | 5 |
| Daughters with Al | Alva, Rubi, Kora |
| Father | Baptist preacher |
| Education | Christian studies and communication |
| Net Worth | Not confirmed |
| Residence | Not confirmed |
| Current Status | Private |
Who Is Shirley Kyles?
Shirley Kyles is an American gospel singer. Her full name is Shirley Anne Watts Kyles Green. She became known as the wife of Al Green. He is a famous singer known for songs like Let’s Stay Together.
Before her marriage Shirley worked in church music. She loved singing gospel songs and helping people. Her faith was a big part of her life. She wanted to use her voice to share songs about God and love.
Shirley is also a mother of five children. Three are from her marriage to Al Green. She later spoke about the abuse she faced during their marriage. She hoped her story would help other women find strength.
Shirley Kyles Early Life
Shirley Kyles grew up in a Christian family. Her father was a Baptist preacher in Chicago. Church was a big part of her early life. She learned about God and faith while she was still very young.
She also loved music from an early age. Gospel songs became an important part of her life. She enjoyed singing at church and sharing her faith through music. This love later helped her build a career as a singer.
Not much is known about her mother or siblings. Shirley kept many parts of her childhood private. But her family and church life helped shape her future. Her faith stayed strong even when life became very hard.
Shirley Kyles Education
Shirley Kyles was likely born around 1948. A news report from 1995 said she was 46 years old. Some websites list July 28 as her birthday. But her exact date of birth has not been fully confirmed.
Shirley also cared about learning. Reports say she studied Christian Counseling and Theology at Trinity International University. She wanted to learn more about faith and how to help people who were going through hard times.
She also reportedly studied Public Relations and Communications at the University of Memphis. Her exact degrees have not been confirmed. Still her reported studies show her interest in learning and helping others beyond her music career.
Shirley Kyles Career as a Gospel Singer
Shirley Kyles worked as a gospel singer before meeting Al Green. She helped lead music at Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church in Memphis. Her job was to guide singers and help with songs during church services.
She also sang at live music shows. She once opened two concerts where Al Green was the main singer. But they did not meet at those events. Shirley left before Green came on stage to sing.
Gospel music meant a lot to Shirley. She liked songs that shared her faith. She did not enjoy some of the blues songs Green sang. This later became one reason she stopped working with his music group.
How Did Shirley Kyles Meet Al Green?
Shirley Kyles met Al Green in 1976 at a Baptist church in Memphis. Green was already a famous singer. He was also becoming more involved in church life. He wanted to sing more gospel songs at that time.
Green asked Shirley to join his music group as a background singer. She agreed and started working with him. She also helped at his Full Gospel Tabernacle Church. Their work gave them more time to know each other.
Soon they became close friends and fell in love. They spent time talking and watching TV at Shirley’s home. But she left his music group in April 1977 because she disliked some of his songs. Their love story continued.
Shirley Kyles and Al Green’s Wedding
After Shirley left the music group she and Green spent about two months apart. Then Green came to her home with a diamond ring. He asked her to marry him. His surprise visit changed their lives.
The couple married on June 15 1977. Their wedding took place in a preacher’s living room in Memphis. Shirley wore a white cotton dress. It was a small wedding with only a few people there.
At first Shirley believed Green was a kind and loving man. She hoped they would have a happy life together. But things soon changed after their wedding. Their marriage faced serious problems that later led to divorce.
Shirley Kyles First Marriage and Children
Before marrying Al Green Shirley Kyles had already been married once. She had two children from her first marriage. Not much is known about her first husband. She kept that part of her life away from the public.
Shirley and Al Green had three daughters together. Their names are Alva Green and Rubi Green and Kora Green. Shirley loved her children and wanted to give them a happy home. Her family meant a lot to her.
She also faced a sad loss during her marriage. Shirley lost a baby after eight weeks of pregnancy. She went to Chicago to stay with her sister. Later she returned home and went on to have three daughters.
Why Did Shirley Kyles Divorce Al Green Twice?
Shirley Kyles said her marriage became painful soon after the wedding. She said Al Green hurt her many times. At first she hoped he would change. She wanted to keep her family together for her children.
In 1978 Shirley filed for divorce for the first time. But the couple later got back together. She believed his promise that things would get better. Sadly the problems did not end and their marriage stayed full of fear.
Shirley filed for divorce again in 1981. Green later admitted that he had hit her but said he had been provoked. Their divorce became final in February 1983. After years of pain Shirley could start a new life.
Shirley Kyles Life After Divorce
After her divorce Shirley Kyles focused on her children and her own life. She wanted peace after years of trouble. She also stayed close to her faith. Church and prayer had always been important parts of her life.
Shirley did not leave gospel music behind. She still loved singing songs about God. She also wanted to help people who faced hard times at home. Her own past gave her a strong reason to speak up.
She later said she had no hate toward Al Green. She still prayed for him and hoped he would do well. Green also said their bond was no longer full of hate. They had both moved on from their marriage.
How Shirley Kyles Helped Abuse Victims
In 1995 Shirley Kyles shared her story with the public. She spoke about the abuse she said she faced during her marriage. She wanted other women to know they were not alone and could ask for help.
The death of Nicole Brown Simpson in 1994 helped Shirley find the courage to speak. Nicole’s story made many people talk about abuse at home. Shirley felt it was time to share what she had lived through.
She also spoke about staying in a bad marriage for the children. Shirley said this could put families at risk. She wanted women to seek safety instead of living in fear. Her words gave hope to other victims.
Shirley Kyles Net Worth and Life Today
Shirley Kyles worked as a gospel singer and church music leader. She also helped people through her faith. But her exact income was never made public. There is no trusted report that confirms her personal net worth.
Some reports say she received money after her divorce from Al Green. However this does not tell us how much money she owned. Her work and private savings are not well known. So her net worth remains unknown.
As of 2026 there is little clear news about Shirley’s life today. Her current home has not been confirmed. Some websites report her death in 2023 but that claim is not clearly proven. Her later life remains private.
Final Thoughts
Shirley Kyles is known as Al Green’s ex-wife. But she also had her own life as a gospel singer and mother. She faced many hard times during her marriage. Her faith helped her through those painful years.
She married Green in 1977 and had three daughters with him. Their marriage ended in 1983 after two divorce filings. Years later Shirley spoke about her past. She hoped her story would help women facing the same pain.
Her life shows how hard it can be to leave an unsafe home. It also shows why speaking up matters. Shirley Kyles will be known for her music and family as well as her wish to help others.
(FAQs)
How Old Is Shirley Kyles and When Is Her Birthday?
Shirley Kyles was born around 1948. Some websites say her birthday is July 28. She would be about 78 years old in 2026. Her exact birth date is not confirmed.
What Is Shirley Kyles’ Net Worth?
Shirley Kyles’ net worth is not known. She made money from gospel singing and church work. Her total wealth has not been shared with the public.
Where Is Shirley Kyles Living Today?
Shirley Kyles kept her life private after her divorce. As of 2026 her current home and living status are not confirmed. She has stayed out of the public eye.
What Is Shirley Kyles’ Ethnicity?
Shirley Kyles is African American. She grew up in a Christian family. Her father was a Baptist preacher in Chicago.
What Is Shirley Kyles’ Nationality?
Shirley Kyles is American. She grew up in Chicago and later worked in Memphis. She became known as a gospel singer and Al Green’s ex-wife.
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