In the summer of 2016, country star Craig Morgan faced the unimaginable. His 19-year-old son, Jerry, tragically passed away following a tubing accident on Kentucky Lake in Tennessee. The devastating loss shook Craig to his core, leaving a void no parent ever wants to face.
But out of that darkness came a moment of divine inspiration.
“It was 2:30 in the morning,” Craig recalled. “I was in bed, and suddenly, the entire chorus of a song about Jerry came to me. I hadn’t even opened my eyes, and I was already singing it in my head.”
That song became “The Father, My Son, and the Holy Ghost,” a soul-stirring ballad born from grief, faith, and undying love. Craig first performed it at the Grand Ole Opry in July 2019—and thought it would be the only time he ever shared it.
But one country legend had other ideas.
“You Have to Share This With the World”
After Craig’s emotional Opry debut, Ricky Skaggs pulled him aside backstage.
“He looked me in the eye and told me, ‘You have to keep singing this. The world needs to hear it,’” Craig told People.
And so, Craig released the song to the public.
Enter Blake Shelton—A Friend on a Mission
The song quietly moved hearts, but it wasn’t until Blake Shelton stepped in that it truly took off.
Blake, who was deeply moved by the song and Craig’s vulnerability, launched an all-out campaign on Twitter to get “The Father, My Son, and the Holy Ghost” to the top of the iTunes charts—even if it meant knocking his own song out of the running.
“I don’t care what anyone says. This is the most important song on Earth right now,” Blake tweeted. “Let’s get Craig to #1.”
Radio stations took notice. Fans rallied. And just days later, the song not only topped the Country chart, but climbed to #1 on iTunes overall—a feat rarely seen from an independent release.
“Congratulations @cmorganmusic. This one’s for Jerry,” Blake posted after the victory.
Craig, stunned and grateful, replied:
“Blake Shelton. You are an awesome friend and a champion for country music. We love ya, and I cannot thank you enough.”
An Emotional Surprise on The Kelly Clarkson Show
In a full-circle moment, Craig appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show and performed his now-iconic song live. But just before he took the stage, Kelly had a surprise up her sleeve.
Blake Shelton himself walked out, joining Kelly and guest Eva Mendes in the front row. Together, the three watched Craig pour his soul into “The Father, My Son, and the Holy Ghost”—his voice shaking, the lyrics raw with pain and purpose.
By the time he finished, everyone was in tears. Kelly, Blake, and Eva rose to their feet, visibly moved by the raw vulnerability of the moment.
“That wasn’t just a song. That was a prayer,” Kelly later said.
