In 1969, Stephen Stills wrote a love song for Judy Collins, but even his best couldn’t win her back

Stephen Stills and folk singer Judy Collins had a brief romance after meeting during recording sessions for Collins’ 1968 album, *Who Knows Where the Time Goes*. The relationship soon became a friendship, but its ending inspired Stills to write songs that helped establish Crosby, Stills and Nash’s reputation.

The songs included “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”, which named Collins, and “Helplessly Hoping”; both appeared on the group’s self-titled debut, which won the 1970 Grammy for Best New Artist. Collins said the songs were beautiful but did not win her back, and described “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” as flattering and heartbreaking. The pair remained friends and later recorded the 2017 album *Everybody Knows* and toured together.