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PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 6 May 2019

New exhibit shows Keith Whitley's tragic, but lasting legacy

By KRISTIN M. HALL "This is not a fairytale end-
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — ing."
Keith Whitley seemed des- They were married in 1986,
tined to become a country and their son Jesse Keith
star with his haunting, soul- Whitley was born shortly af-
ful baritone honed by his ter. Whitley adopted Mor-
roots in Kentucky bluegrass. gan's daughter from a pre-
But his life was cut tragically vious relationship.
short when he died of alco- Whitley tried to get sober
hol poisoning in 1989 at the and Morgan tried to help,
age of 33 when his addic- writing in her 1997 autobi-
tion finally overcame him. ography that she would tie
Thirty years after his death, their legs together in bed
the Country Music Hall of to keep him from sneaking
Fame and Museum is mark- out of bed to drink.
ing his indelible legacy with "What I hope people take
an exhibit and a concert away is the struggles that
featuring Garth Brooks, Tri- Keith had to live his dream,"
sha Yearwood, Tracy Law- Morgan said.
rence and more. Although he only released
The exhibit, which opens two solo albums prior to his
Friday and runs until April death and another two al-
2020, is the first to focus In this April 30, 2019, photo, Lorrie Morgan poses with her son, Jesse Keith Whitley, left, and ad- bums posthumously, Whit-
solely on the Sandy Hook, opted daughter Morgan Whitley, right, at the Keith Whitley exhibit at the Country Music Hall of ley led the way for the new
Kentucky singer whose Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tenn. traditionalist movement in
No. 1 country hits include Associated Press country music in the early
"When You Say Nothing At '90s that included Brooks,
All," ''I'm No Stranger to the Whitley's death. from the fringed leather nized, she felt sad that he Clint Black, Randy Travis
Rain" and "Don't Close Your His widow, country singer jackets he liked to wear to wasn't here to see the im- and more.
Eyes." The concert will be Lorrie Morgan, brought their his favorite guitar. Morgan pact his music had. His son Jesse Keith Whitley,
held at the Hall of Fame on children and grandchildren said that while she's glad to "It is a sad story," Morgan now 31, will also be singing
May 9 — the anniversary of to see the exhibit firsthand, see him finally get recog- told The Associated Press. during the concert.q