What started as a heartfelt musical moment quickly became one of the most emotional scenes in country music television history. Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkson were left visibly shaken — tears streaming, hands trembling — after Craig Morgan performed his deeply personal song, “The Father, My Son, and the Holy Ghost.”
A Song Born from Tragedy
In the summer of 2016, Craig Morgan’s world changed forever. His 19-year-old son, Jerry, tragically passed away in a tubing accident on Kentucky Lake. Struggling with unimaginable grief, Craig did what many artists do: he turned to music.
One night at 2:30 a.m., the chorus came to him — fully formed — as if the words had been waiting for him in his sleep. “I sang the entire chorus in my head before I was even fully awake,” he told People. That moment of inspiration became the foundation for what would grow into “The Father, My Son, and the Holy Ghost.”
The Opry Debut — And a Legend’s Advice
Craig debuted the song in July 2019 on the sacred stage of the Grand Ole Opry. He believed it might be a one-time performance — a personal offering of love and loss. But after he stepped offstage, country legend Ricky Skaggs approached him and said, “You have to keep performing that song.” That encouragement gave Craig the strength to keep sharing it — and people listened.
The performance went viral.
Blake Shelton’s Mission of Friendship
Among those deeply moved was country superstar Blake Shelton. In an extraordinary show of support, Blake launched a full-blown social media campaign to push Craig’s song to the top of the iTunes charts. He promoted the track day after day — even though doing so meant knocking his own song out of the top spot.
And it worked.
“The Father, My Son, and the Holy Ghost” climbed to #1 on the iTunes country chart — and then hit #1 on the overall chart. A song born from heartbreak had reached millions.
Blake tweeted:
“Congratulations @cmorganmusic. This one’s for Jerry.”
Craig responded with gratitude:
“Blake Shelton. You are an awesome friend and champion for country music. We love ya, and I cannot thank you enough.”
A Surprise That Left Everyone in Tears
But perhaps the most powerful moment came when Craig performed the song again on The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Craig thought he was there for a solo performance — but mid-show, Kelly surprised him by bringing out Blake Shelton. The three sat with actress Eva Mendes in the front row, bracing themselves as Craig began to sing.
What followed was raw, heartbreaking, and unforgettable.
Blake bowed his head, wiping his face. Kelly reached out, holding his hand as the lyrics washed over them like a wave of grief and grace. By the final note, all three were on their feet, tears flowing freely — not just from pain, but from the beauty of how music can carry us through the darkest places.
🎧 Listen to “The Father, My Son, and the Holy Ghost” on Apple Music
🎟️ Craig Morgan concert tickets available now
👕 Check out exclusive country music apparel and “Cry” merchandise
Be warned: If you watch Craig’s performance, you might want a box of tissues close by. Some songs touch the heart — this one goes straight through it.
