Entering a new chapter after a serious health scare. Jesse Keith Whitley, son of the country stars Keith Whitley and Lorrie Morgan, shared on Facebook that he’s making a major life change after a serious health scare. The 38-year-old shared via a Facebook post on December 28th that he’s sober after being hospitalized for over a week. Whitley shared with fans and followers that he was hospitalized last month and bedridden for days due to the serious amount of pain that he was in. In the comments of the post, he revealed that he has a severe case of pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas that can cause pain, vomiting, nausea, and more. The pain that Whitley was in made him realize that he needs to evaluate some of his habits and make some life changes to stay healthy and pain-free. It’s no secret that his father battled an alcohol addiction, one that was so severe it ultimately took his life in the prime of his iconic country music career. And while Jesse doesn’t say it explicitly, I think we can infer from his statement that alcohol was nearly killing him as well… pancreatitis, in otherwise young and healthy people, is often caused by heavy alcohol use. His solution: Getting Jesus and getting sober. “A month ago today, I was in a pretty rough spot health-wise and faith-wise. I asked for a sign to make sure I was doing what I was put here to do and if I was on the right path. That night, I ended up in the emergency room. It was serious. Me being me, on the way, I wanted to get it out of the way so we could throw down for some football and cooking with cold beers and some cocktails. That wasn’t going to be the case; I was literally bedridden for a solid 7, maybe 8 days. I was in the worst pain of my life. When I tell you that I mean it, I consider myself to have a pretty high pain tolerance; this was the worst thing I have ever experienced. I turned to my faith and prayed that God would give me the strength to best the demon that’s taken so much from me through my life. I said out loud, ‘God help me back on the your road and I will never stray from you again.'” After this horrifying scare, and pleading for God to help him, Whitley made serious life changes that day to get his life back on track and to be the man that he knows he is. “Here we are a month later, my faith is stronger than ever, my health is rock solid, my foundation at home is better; Back in the gym. SOBER! I feel fantastic waking up in the mornings, not hurting or looking for the fix that afternoon. Standing here in the mirror looking at myself, and I’m proud to be a child of God by the name of Jesse Keith Whitley. Getting dressed and making sure we look good for our first day back in church at St. Joseph’s in lord only knows how long. Don’t let anyone clip your wings.  I wanna thank my brother in Christ, Tweedy, for the scriptures every day and deep talks of God and what he does for us without even seeing it. My wife for taking care of me during my downtime and giving me the strength to get back on my feet and go forth! My kids for loving me at my rock bottom and the motivation to become the best father I can be.” To end the post, Whitley thanked his mother, Lorrie Morgan, and sister for supporting him through his sobriety journey thus far, although it sounds like they did not know the struggles he was fully going through. “My mom sister and family who knew but didn’t know the battle I was actually fighting for always loving me. Most importantly and last but not least, My lord and savior Jesus Christ, through you, all things are possible, and the strength from you is a strength unmatched by anything. I give my life to you. Forever.” While the health scare is beyond terrifying, it was truly a wake-up call for Jesse Keith Whitley, and ultimately led him to make a choice that will keep him healthy and present for his family. Over the years, Jesse has shared how much he hopes to carry on the legacy and name of his father, who tragically died from alcohol poisoning in his early 30s. It was heartbreaking to lose such an incredible talent at such a young age because of his addiction, and Jesse Keith Whitley is ensuring that he doesn’t follow in his father’s footsteps. It takes a brave man to admit something like this to his fans, and it’s heartwarming to see so many of his followers lift him up in the comments on the post. Good on you, Jesse Keith Whitley. Prayers up. Before you go check out Jesse covering his father’s tune, “Don’t Close Your Eyes.” The post Keith Whitley’s Son, Jesse, Reveals Newfound Sobriety After Serious Hospitalization: “The Worst Pain Of My Life” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Of course it was the King. Zach Top seems to be everywhere these days. Riding the highs of his debut album last year and his highly-successful sophomore effort this year, Ain’t In It For My Health, the Washington native has simply flown through the ranks in country music over the past two years. Whether it’s his ACM win for New Male Artist this past April, his five CMA nominations and a win for Best New Artist this November, his high praise from fellow artists such as Dierks Bentley or his continued domination on social media, Top has, without a doubt, become the genre’s new “it” artist. In addition to being labeled as the savior of traditional country music, Top has proven himself as the quintessential human jukebox when it comes to delivering phenomenal covers of different songs across multiple eras. From Chris Stapleton’s “Nobody to Blame” and Billy Currington’s “Good Directions” to George Strait’s “Nobody In His Right Mind Would Have Left Her,” Conway Twitty’s “Slow Hand” and many more, the Washington Native has yet to meet a classic song that he cannot perform flawlessly. And it looks like that started from a very young age. Though he’s earned the label of being Alan Jackson’s “son,” over the past two years, thanks in part to the pairs’ similar styles and signature mustaches, the first song that Zach Top ever learned was not from the Chattahoochee singer but instead fellow ’90s legend and country giant, George Strait. In a 2024 interview with CMT’s Cody Alan, right after the release of his debut album, Cold Beer & Country Music, the “I Never Lie” singer was asked who is biggest influence growing up was. Much to the chagrin of the Jackson-Top father and son conspiracy theorists out there, Top would immediately answer with Strait, thanks in part to his parents being such big fans of the King. “The first big one was George Strait for me. Ever since I was about three years old, I thought he looked pretty cool in a cowboy hat and holding a guitar. That was my parent’s favorite, so they had him playing nonstop in the house growing up. Top would then reveal that the first song he ever learned to play on guitar was none other than Strait’s signature 1982 hit (which is actually a cover of Terry Stafford’s original song), “Amarillo By Morning.” “Actually, the first song I ever asked to learn how to play on guitar when I took my first lesson when I was five. I walked in there and the girl asked me what I wanted to learn to play, and I said, ‘Amarillo By Morning.'” Top will undoubtedly have a full-circle career moment this spring when he will open for Strait, along with the severely underrated Dylan Gossett, for the “Troubadour” singer’s upcoming show at Jones AT&T Stadium on Friday, April 24th. Here’s to hoping they perform a song together come April. Watch Top perform the song live in Boston back in May here: Zach Top Tour Dates February 5 – Scottsdale, Arizona – Coors Light Birds Nest 2026 February 21 – Zurich, Switzerland – The Hall February 25 – Copenhagen, Denmark – K.B. Hallen February 28 – Stockholm, Sweden – Annexet March 3 – Oslo, Norway – Sentrum Scene March 7 – Rotterdamn, Netherlands – Rotterdam Ahoy March 8 – Berlin, Germany – Uber Eats Music Hall March 13 – London, United Kingdom – The O2 March 14 – Belfat, Northern Ireland – SSE Arena March 15 – Glasgow, United Kingdom – OVO Hydro April 9 – Florence, Arizona – Country Thunder Arizona April 24 – Lubbock, Texas – Jones AT&T Stadium May 22 – Norfolk, Virginia – Patriotic FestivalThe post Zach Top Reveals Which George Strait Classic Was The First Song He Learned To Play On Guitar first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino just sent a big ‘mic drop’ promise to the city of Chicago, telling them: “If you think we’re done with Chicago, you’d better check yourself before you . . .

Tim Walz under fire as Minnesota fraud claims grow | The Right Squad

Taxpayers deserve security, public safety: Klacik | American Agenda

“Don’t duel” is a given. Here are few other pearls of wisdom from one of America’s most familiar Founding Fathers.

Chances are you’ve heard some of these terms over the past year—whether you understood what they meant or not.

Entitled Driver vs Biker @MacDaddyRico

The CIA carried out a drone strike earlier this month on a port facility on the coast of Venezuela, sources familiar with the matter told CNN, marking the first known US attack on a target inside that country.