Lorrie Morgan Honors Late Husband Keith Whitley With “Don’t Close Your Eyes” At The Opry
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The Grand Ole Opry held a special celebration of the CMA Awards on Sunday (Nov. 8), and Lorrie Morgan was one of the first people announced on the lineup.
Deana Carter, Vince Gill, Jamey Johnson, Lorrie Morgan, and Ricky Skaggs were the first to sign on to perform, and in the days that followed, Crystal Gayle, Ketch Secor, and Molly Tuttle were added.
The Opry’s announcement read, “60 years of the CMA Awards calls for a celebration! On November 8, we’re taking a trip back to the years when “Country Music’s Biggest Night” called the Grand Ole Opry House home. Hosted by 18-time CMA Award-winner Vince Gill and featuring performances from Deana Carter, Jamey Johnson, Lorrie Morgan, Ricky Skaggs, and more. Join us for a special night at the Grand Ole Opry!”
According to a press release from the Opry, the show will also “include vintage video clips from the Opry House era of the Awards show featuring Alabama, Alan Jackson, Barbara Mandrell, Ronnie Milsap, Dolly Parton, and more.”
Lorrie Morgan Took The Stage For Two Meaningful Songs
The star-studded setlist revisited some of the biggest moments in CMA Awards history, including tributes to 1977 CMA Entertainer of the Year Ronnie Milsap, 1983 Entertainer of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, and Album of the Year winners Alabama.
There was also an emotional tribute to Dolly Parton and John Anderson from Secor and Tuttle, and additional tributes to Anderson from Jamey Johnson and Vince Gill.
Another highlight was when Lorrie Morgan, who has six CMA nominations and two wins to her name, took the stage to perform “Watch Me” and a tribute to her late husband, Keith Whitley.
She performed his iconic song “Don’t Close Your Eyes,” which he released in March 1988, a little over a year before he passed away.
Morgan and Whitley won Vocal Event Of The Year for “Til A Tear Becomes A Rose” at the 1990 CMA Awards, so this year marks the 26th anniversary of their historic and emotional win.
Standing in the Opry circle with a photo of her and her later husband behind her, Morgan delivered an emotional rendition of the Whitley classic, which she dedicated to her children, Morgan and Jesse Keith Whitley.
Watch her incredible performance below.
