Saturday (May 9) marked 37 years since Keith Whitley‘s death. But his widow, country star Lorrie Morgan, says his memory is a constant, beloved presence in her life to this day.
Morgan remembered the anniversary with a social media tribute, including old video footage of the two of them singing Lefty Frizzell’s “That’s the Way Love Goes” in the late ’80s.
It was an appropriate song choice for the country music power couple, who were married for three years between November 1986 and Whitley’s death in May 1989. Morgan would continue to champion and care for Whitley’s legacy, even nearly four decades after he died.
See Lorrie Morgan’s Tribute to Keith Whitley On the 37th Anniversary Of His Death
“I still love you Keith,” Morgan wrote in her post. “You will forever be the love of my life.”
Morgan’s message for Whitley was simple, raw and full of enduring love.
“We talk about you everyday, your sweet voice serenades us everyday, & we miss you everyday,” she continued. “I can’t wait to see you in Heaven some glad morning. Missing you on this sad day. Forever yours.”
How Did Keith Whitley Die?
Whitley’s life was cut tragically short: He died of alcohol poisoning at just 34 years old.
Read More: Remembering the Tragic Way Keith Whitley Died
The singer battled alcohol addiction for most of his life, and Morgan tried hard to help him with his fight after they got together. After his death, she also helped preserve his music, working to restore his Wherever You Are Tonight album in 1995.
Whitley died young, but was still able to leave a lasting mark as one of country music’s enduring legends. The Country Music Hall of Fame posthumously inducted him in 2022.
Did Keith Whitley + Lorrie Morgan Have Any Children Together?
They had one child together, Jesse Keith Whitley, during their marriage. Whitley also legally adopted Morgan’s daughter from a previous marriage
Did Lorrie Morgan Remarry After Keith Whitley’s Death?
Yes. Morgan has been married six times in total, including her marriage to Whitley and her prior marriage to Ron Gaddis.
She would be married four more times after Whitley’s death, including marriages to singers Jon Randall and Sammy Kershaw. Both of those ended in divorce.
In 2010, Morgan married Randy White. They stayed together until White’s death in 2025; he died at 72 years old after a battle with mouth cancer.
R.I.P.: 40 Country Singers and Songwriters Who Died Too Soon
These country singers had so much more to give. See 40 country singers who died much too soon: Keith Whitley, Mindy McCready, Troy Gentry and more.
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
