On a warm summer day in 2016, country singer Craig Morgan faced every parent’s greatest nightmare. His 19-year-old son, Jerry, tragically passed away in a tubing accident on Kentucky Lake in Tennessee.
In the midst of his grief, Craig turned to the only outlet that had always brought him comfort — music. One night, at 2:30 in the morning, he awoke with a melody and words already echoing in his head. “I was singing the entire chorus before I even had the chance to write it down,” he later recalled. That midnight moment of sorrow and inspiration gave birth to one of the most powerful songs of his career: “The Father, My Son, and The Holy Ghost.”
A Song Born From Pain, Shared With the World
Craig first performed the song in July 2019 at the Grand Ole Opry, never expecting it would go any further. But fate had other plans. Country legend Ricky Skaggs, deeply moved after hearing it live, urged him to share it beyond the Opry stage. “You have to perform this again,” Skaggs told him. “The world needs to hear it.”
And share it he did. Craig released the song on iTunes, where it soon caught the attention of his longtime friend Blake Shelton. Moved by its message and determined to help Craig’s tribute to his son reach as many people as possible, Blake launched a personal campaign on Twitter. He championed the song relentlessly — even knowing it could push his own track down the charts.
The effort paid off. “The Father, My Son, and The Holy Ghost” rose to the very top of the iTunes country chart — and then climbed even higher, topping the overall iTunes chart as the #1 most-downloaded song in the world.
Blake celebrated with a heartfelt tweet: “Congratulations @cmorganmusic. This one’s for Jerry.”
Craig, in turn, thanked him: “Blake Shelton, you are an awesome friend and champion for country music. We love ya, and I cannot thank you enough.”
An Emotional TV Moment With Kelly Clarkson
The song’s impact didn’t stop at the charts. During a heartfelt appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Craig was invited to perform his deeply personal ballad once more. As he poured his heart into every lyric, the weight of the song’s story filled the studio.
Kelly Clarkson, Blake Shelton, and actress Eva Mendes sat watching in silence, their emotions rising with every note. By the time Craig reached the final chorus, all three were visibly crying — tears streaming as they stood in applause. It was one of those rare television moments where the power of music brought everyone to their knees.
A Song That Keeps Jerry’s Memory Alive
What began as a father’s private prayer has become a universal anthem of grief, faith, and healing. Through his music, Craig Morgan has given voice to the pain of loss while keeping the memory of his son alive. And thanks to the unwavering support of friends like Blake Shelton, that message continues to reach hearts all over the world.
So if you press play on Craig’s performance of “The Father, My Son, and The Holy Ghost,” be warned — you’ll want a box of tissues close by. It’s more than a song. It’s a soul laid bare, and a reminder of how music can heal even the deepest wounds.
