Emotional Jesse Keith Whitley Performs Moving Tribute To His Late Father, Keith Whitley
on Jan 23, 2017 • Updated Jun 14, 2023
It’s a known fact that talent can certainly be passed down through generations. Hank Williams, Hank Williams Jr., Hank Williams III, Hilary Williams, and Holly Williams have proven this to be true. Jesse Keith Whitley not only has a legendary dad in Keith Whitley, he also has a talented country-singin’ mama in Lorrie Morgan.
Because of his DNA and his name, he has been compared to his late father his entire life. In 2014, he penned a song about following his father’s footsteps, as well as forging his own path and pursuing country music as a career. In his song “Shadows,” Jesse details a conversation he imagines between himself and Keith.
He references a few of his dad’s greatest hits including “Don’t Close Your Eyes,” “No Stranger To The Rain,” and “Don’t Go Around Mirrors” in the emotional ballad with the lyrics, “Don’t you ever close your eyes, ’cause your whole life might pass you by/And I’m no stranger to the rain/People will think I’m crazy now/Think I’d make it in this town/You won’t find me ’round no mirror.”
He ends the song by telling Keith, “Dad, you’re a damn hard act to follow, but here I come out of your shadow.”
We know that Keith is looking down on his son, smiling. Watch his incredible tribute below.
