Documentary on the Life of Keith Whitley On The Way
Finally, a full fledged documentary on the life and death of Country Music Hall of Famer Keith Whitley is on the way. To be directed by Oscar-nominated Zach Heinzerling of McCartney 3,2,1 miniseries fame, it’s being produced by Lee Metzger of Lucky Horseshoe Productions, Evan Hayes, as well as Blake Shelton.
The film will feature extensive footage from the archives of the Country Music Hall of Fame, along with the personal collection of Keith Whitley’s widow and champion of his legacy, Lorrie Morgan. The film will also include reflections from Lorrie, and will explore the small town of Sandy Hook, Kentucky where Whitley grew up.
Keith Whitley started in country music as a member of Ralph Stanley’s bluegrass band, and later join J.D. Crowe and his band The New South before he moved to Nashville in 1983, and signed a record deal with RCA. Keith Whitley’s first major record was a 1984 EP called A Hard Act To Follow, and it didn’t fare too well. Released right before the neotraditional movement that would sweep country music in earnest on the backs of guys like Randy Travis and George Strait, A Hard Act To Follow was deemed to be too country.
But the 1985 album L.A. to Miami put Keith Whitley on the map with songs like “Miami, My Amy,” “Ten Feet Away,” and “Hard Livin’.” Then Keith’s 1988 record Don’t Close Your Eyes set him on the path to downright superstardom, landing him his first #1 hit with the title track, which would set off a succession of five straight #1 songs from Whitley, including signature songs “When You Say Nothing At All” and “I’m No Stranger to the Rain.”
However on May 9th, 1989, Keith Whitley died of what was ruled as alcohol poisoning, and he never got to reap the rewards of the career he’d worked to build. He was just 34-years-old. Many give credit to Keith Whitley for helping to set the table for country music’s landmark “Class of ’89” that would take country music to a peak in popularity. Along with a resurgence of interest in ’80s and ’90s country has come a renewed interest in Whitley and his career.
“What drew me to this project was the idea of tapping into a pop culture story that lies slightly beneath the surface,” says producer Evan Hayes. “Here is this guy who is so important in the country music world—he inspired the modern ‘Star Is Born,’ Morgan Wallen wrote a song about him and his music—and a lot of people don’t know his name. To be able to explore this character and this love story that had permeated pop culture country music in such an impactful way and to introduce it to mainstream audiences is exciting.”
Traditional country audiences who already know about Keith Whitley might not be excited about the presence of Blake Shelton on the production team, or Morgan Wallen’s tribute song to Whitley. But it’s hard to get to angry about more attention being paid to the country legend.
More information including a release date for the documentary when it becomes available.
December 15, 2024 @ 11:52 am
Sounds grear. I liked his music. He sadly wasnt around along enough for me to decide if i was a fan or not but he sure had some great songs particularly on the last album.
December 15, 2024 @ 4:45 pm
Lucky Horseshoe Production is Lee and Blake. They announced their partnership in 2023. Shelton was also one of the driving forces to get this documentary made.
December 16, 2024 @ 2:57 am
Amazing to be reminded on how short his career was and how young he was when he died. It can’t be easy to drink yourself to death at 34. My god, what a voice. Unforgettable.
December 16, 2024 @ 11:54 am
Unfortunately, when you’re drinking heavily before you turn 16, it’s not hard to drink yourself to death by 34. I’d imagine that, had he lived, Keith would have been one of mainstream country’s biggest stars through the mid-’90s. How, or whether, he would have adjusted to the end of the neotraditionalist era in the late ’90s is a question that will never be answered.
December 16, 2024 @ 7:16 am
It would be nice to hear the thoughts from his first wife Kathi. Including Carson and other band members of Miami would also be welcome. If all we get is more of Lorrie’s selective story telling, I will pass. Keith is my favorite, but no thanks if she is pulling the strings.
December 16, 2024 @ 2:05 pm
Of course she is.
Saint Lorrie.
December 16, 2024 @ 4:17 pm
It’s the rules. If you want to do something about Buddy Holly, you have to go through Maria Elaina Holly. Same thing with John Lennon and Yoko.
January 12, 2025 @ 9:19 am
I’m looking forward to this, but hate the thought of Lorrie Morgan being in it. I know she was in his life, but good Lord she’s married like 5 times since him! She always comes across as “poor pitiful Lorrie”. Just my opinion. I loved Keith Whitley the 1st time I ever heard him sing and I still do!
December 16, 2024 @ 8:32 am
Will definitely watch this and hope to learn more about such an amazing talent. Hearing my parents play his music in the house when I was little is where my love of country music began.
December 16, 2024 @ 11:46 am
Randy Hayes, who played guitar for Keith, had a ton of Keith content on youtube, but him and Keith’s son do not get along. He told me when I met him at a Jake Worthington show that it’s because he told Jesse Keith it’s because “His music fucking sucks” or something to that degree. Hope he gets on the documentary.
December 16, 2024 @ 2:46 pm
Randy also posts a lot on Keith’s death on youtube. He is insistent Keith did not die from alcohol poisoning. Keith’s death is fishy as hell, but not sure how the alcohol can’t be the cause? Randy won’t disclose any specific information on his theory though.Randy was with Keith at the end of his Crowe years, and through mid 1988 as a member of the Miami Band.Trigger did a nice piece on Keith’s death a few years ago.Jesse lacks all self awareness. Has been hammered drunk at every memorial type event for Keith I have ever attended.Jesse is also wanting to release his own whiskey brand.
December 16, 2024 @ 2:03 pm
How many men will Lorrie ruin before she’s happy?
Billy Don Burns, Keith Whitley, Sammy Kershaw, Jon Randall…
Worth a documentary, too.
December 16, 2024 @ 4:11 pm
RCA made EPs (but still a standard 12 inch record) as an introduction to artists for a little while in the early ’80s. I’m pretty sure Vince Gill had one , and the Judds’ first project was one (and became a hit).
December 17, 2024 @ 7:08 am
If his family is involved this will likely be a sanitized version of Keith Whitley’s life and his demise,
Keith was addicted to alcohol, pornography, liaison’s with prostitutes and was a frequent drug user. Reportedly a woman had been with him just prior to his death. His autopsy revealed drugs in his bloodstream although alcohol poisoning was cited as his primary cause of death.
A great singer to be sure but his personal life was a train wreck. If his true story is told in the film there would be no need to fabricate details for dramatic effect. Based on the true facts it would make a very compelling (and sad) movie.
December 22, 2024 @ 8:07 am
Not so sure the family would “sanitize” his life…maybe. But his widow did mention the unsavory elements you listed (about his life just prior to his death) in her book, including the mysterious woman.
December 17, 2024 @ 11:25 am
A great singer with a great voice and I like his music. I am a fan but I am not sure I quite understand his legendary status, unless that is simply down to his sad early death. His music whilst good was not ground breaking and his catalogue is relatively small.
December 18, 2024 @ 6:43 am
I too agree that Keith’s early death created an aura about him that doesn’t match reality. He was an excellent singer but his entire catalog encompasses less than five years. Though Keith is cited by many younger singers as influential. his singing style was not unique. Whitley’s sound was based on the Letty Frizzell/Merle Haggard template.
January 2, 2025 @ 7:16 am
He was featured on recordings dating back to 1971 and can be heard prominently on many Ralph Stanley and JD Crowe sessions. He was a country/bluegrass lifer like Marty Stuart and Ricky Skaggs. It’s a shame that history has been re-written and he is now known as a 3 album God by people who probably can’t listen to one or two of his songs without losing interest.
Had he lived I can almost guarantee he would have been phased out by Garth and ended up making some of the most awesome Bluegrass releases in the late 90’s through current times and the bro-country red dirt cowboys wouldn’t pay him any attention.