Billy Gibbons' Wife Gilligan Stillwater Stays Out of the Spotlight, What to Know About Her

Billy Gibbons' wife, Gilligan Stillwater, has been a constant support throughout his career. Beyond their married life, Stillwater manages her husband's band.

Behind a man's success is a strong woman, and for American rockstar Billy Gibbons, that was his wife, Gilligan Stillwater.

Gibbons' decades-long career made him an influential musician known for writing incredible songs, singing, and playing the guitar. While he entertains fans on the stage, his wife manages his career behind the scenes.

Stillwater has been a great wife, friend, and band manager to her husband and often accompanies him to shows and scheduled events. As her spouse's name became more prominent in the industry, more people became interested in the woman who holds their family together.

Billy Gibbson Once Talked about Postponing Marriage

Although Stillwater's marriage is going strong, she and Gibbons once considered putting their wedding on hold. The ZZ Top frontman wanted to take his time before watching Stillwater walk down the aisle to wed him. He said:

"I could have gone down the aisle a number of times, but I came to the conclusion that this life is too short, and you got to do everything you can while you can."

The couple tied the knot on December 14, 2005, after meeting when Stillwater was only 15 years old. They spent over three decades as acquaintances before Stillwater married Gibbons, 16 years her senior.

In 2005, she appeared in "Miscommunication," which was included in the Hollywood 48 Hours Film Fest.

Throughout his career, Stillwater was Gibbons' only wife. It seemed he did not make a mistake in marrying Stillwater, as he has been living in marital bliss.

Gilligan Gibbons Was Born under a Different Name

Gibbons used a stage name different from his birth name, William Fredrick Gibbons. Similarly, his wife also changed her name.

Stillwater was born Ellen Oetjen on March 8, 1965, but she changed her name later due to an undisclosed reason. Unfortunately, only a little is known about Stillwater as she has maintained a private life for many years.

Billy Gibbons's Wife, Gilligan Stillwater, Also Worked in the Entertainment Industry

Before managing her husband's band, Stillwater was also a public figure working as an actress. In 2005, she appeared in "Miscommunication," which was included in the Hollywood 48 Hours Film Fest. Her husband proudly walked with her on the red carpet and said in an interview:

"[Stillwater] gave me an excuse to have a holiday from having to do live music."

She also had roles in small projects, including "Pickin' and Grinnin'" in 2010 and the short "The Snake and Mongoose Chronicles" the following year.

Her other film credits include "Criss Angel Mindfreak" and "Snake and Mongoose," where she was credited under the name Ellen "Gilligan" Gibbons.

Stillwater's musical talent manifested when she co-wrote one of her husband's songs. In 2018, Stillwater wrote some lyrics to "Missin' Yo' Kissin." The rockstar revealed:

"We had gotten maybe five [songs] recorded, and my lovely sweetheart Gilligan was scribbling away on the couch."

There have been other guitarists whose wives became constant sources of support throughout their careers, including Eddie Van Halen, who credits his wife, Janie Liszewski, for being his rock.

Helen's wife was also in the entertainment business, working as a stunt woman in "From Dusk Till Dawn," "Mulholland Drive," and "Bubble Boy. She later became a professional wrestler before founding the artist-managing firm High Profile Media.