Superstar Garth Brooks shared a funny anecdote about his wife Trisha Yearwood’s love for Keith Whitley during the Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony for the late country singer.
The 60-year-old country music star gave a five-minute induction speech for Whitley as he celebrated the late star during the Medallion Ceremony on Sunday in Nashville, Taste of Country reported in a piece published Monday.
“For all country music fans, this night is long overdue,” Brooks began before getting emotional. He told the crowd it was a mystery to him how Whitley was “too country” for country radio stations. “That’s like saying something is too good.”
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“The fact that Keith Whitley was too country was a blessing for us,” the country star added. “It was probably a curse for Keith.”
“I’m in love with my wife and my wife has me convinced that she loves me,” Brooks continued. “But when Keith Whitley does that ‘Ca-alls,’ (‘I Never Go Around Mirrors’) when he drops that whole octave, that woman cannot remember my name.”
The comment drew lots of laughter from the group gathered for the special ceremony.
Keith Whitley was an enormously influential vocalist in country music and bluegrass, helping spearhead the New Traditionalist revival of classic country music in the 1980s. He will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday, Oct. 16.
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— Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (@countrymusichof) October 15, 2022
Whitley died in May 1989 from alcohol poisoning at the age of 34. During his short career he released two albums, with five hitting the number one spot, most which were released after his death, the outlet noted.
During the induction ceremony, Brooks sang an acoustic performance of Whitley’s huge hit, “Don’t Close Your Eyes.”
Mickey Guyton did her version of Whitley’s “When You Say Nothing at All.” Country star Ricky Skaggs, Molly Tuttle and Justin Moses also paid tribute to the late country star with “Tennessee Blues.”
Whitley’s widow country music star Lorrie Morgan broke down in tears during the ceremony where she was joined by their son Jesse Keith and her daughter from a previous marriage, Morgan Anastasia Gaddis.
“He would have never expected this in his life,” Morgan shared during her emotional speech as she accepted his medallion when he became part of the Hall of Fame for Country music, the outlet noted.