Something truly extraordinary happened in the studio of a popular evening show. The guest of the program was 77-year-old Shelly, one of the first and brightest performers of energetic music on the Iberian Peninsula. Leaning on her cane, she amazed everyone not only with her appearance, but also with an incredible story that unfolded live on air.
Her name resonated throughout the country in the 1960s and 1970s. Her voice, once compared to that of Janis Joplin herself, made itself heard again. But in 1988 everything came to an end. A profound personal tragedy, brought on by the sudden loss of a loved one, forced her to leave the stage. For nearly four decades, she led a reclusive life, leaving her brilliant musical career in the past.
A chance event inspired her to return to music. In the summer of 2025, while in hospital, she heard young street musicians performing. Something clicked inside her. The energy and passion of the young men awakened long-forgotten feelings, and to the astonishment of patients and staff, she joined their impromptu performance. These very musicians—Jonathan, Franco, and Alberto—were now sitting beside her in the studio, accompanying her as her new band.
The interview with host Sonsoles Ónega unfolded in a warm, nostalgic atmosphere. The artist fondly recalled the host’s father, a well-known journalist who dedicated one of his best reports to her back in 1968. Sonsoles was touched and remarked that young musicians had virtually revived the creative path of a forgotten icon.
The twist came at the very end of the show. As the host was saying her goodbyes to the audience, Shelly, thinking the cameras were off, decided to correct an editorial mistake. “It wasn’t my second husband who died, but my third. Please, don’t kill him off!” she said with a smile, clarifying that it was this very loss that led her to step out of the spotlight. When asked if she realized they were still on air, she responded with genuine surprise. “Oh, but that’s my private life… But it’s not a big deal!” the singer shrugged off. The host could only jokingly ask the audience to pretend they hadn’t heard anything.
