Keith Whitley ‘s career was tragically cut short, but it gave him just enough time to make his mark on country music. From his first single’s release in 1984 to his untimely death in 1989, Whitley scored 19 hit singles.
Whitley’s alcoholism was known through much of the country music community, and after he married Lorrie Morgan, she tried to help the singer overcome his addiction. The news of Whitley’s death on May 9, 1989, shook the country world, especially when the cause of death was discovered to be his alcohol dependency. He had reportedly spent the weekend partying and was then found at home fully clothed and face down, dead from alcohol poisoning. Whitley was only 33 years old when he died.
