Blake Shelton to Co-Produce Documentary on Past due Artist Keith Whitley

The overdue nation artist and Nation Tune Corridor of Repute member Keith Whitley will probably be the point of interest of an upcoming documentary movie, thank you partially to his fellow nation artist Blake Shelton. The Whitley-centered documentary will start filming in January 2025.

Shelton is co-producing the documentary with Lee Metzger of Fortunate Horseshoe Productions. Additionally main the mission are Anomaly Content material & Leisure (ACE) spouse and manufacturer Evan Hayes (Loose Solo), with ACE spouse and CEO Justin Barocas serving as government manufacturer and Zach Heinzerling (Cutie and the Boxer, McCartney 3, 2, 1) serving as director.

Whitley died in Would possibly 1989 at age 34, with best two full-length studio nation albums having been launched by the point of his passing (1985’s L.A. to Miami and 1988’s Don’t Shut Your Eyes; his 3rd album, 1989’s I Surprise Do You Recall to mind Me, arrived 3 months after his demise). Alternatively, the songwriting and vocal prowess displayed on the ones tasks — and in his are living displays — has been an indelible affect on generations of artists. Whitley’s “I’m No Stranger to the Rain” earned the CMA’s 1989 unmarried of the yr honor, whilst Whitley’s duet with spouse Lorrie Morgan, “‘Til a Tear Turns into a Rose,” used to be named the CMA’s vocal match of the yr in 1990.

The documentary will have a look at Whitley’s lifestyles and occupation, his struggles with habit, his romance and marriage to fellow nation artist Morgan, and his lasting affect at the track business. The impending documentary will even characteristic archival photos from the Nation Tune Corridor of Repute, in addition to non-public collections from Morgan. The movie will even have a look at Whitley’s roots in Sandy Hook, Kentucky, and can spotlight reflections from Morgan as she navigates her personal occupation whilst honoring Whitley’s reminiscence.

Shelton mentioned in a observation, “Keith Whitley launched best 3 albums throughout his lifestyles, however his track has influenced generations of nation track artists and fanatics. Gwen [Stefani] and I really like to look at track documentaries, and I regarded for his document one night time and couldn’t consider that there wasn’t one. I’m proud and commemorated we get to carry his fantastic tale to movie.”

“Because of Blake, we in spite of everything have the risk to discover the reality in the back of the legend this is Keith Whitley: a layered and heartbreaking tale of skill, hardship, and love this is lengthy past due,” Heinzerling added.
 
“It’s an honor to carry Keith’s tale to a large target market,” Metzger mentioned. “He’s the type of singer we all know the songs once they listen them however doesn’t know the tale of the singer who carried out them.” 

Hayes mentioned, “What drew me to this mission used to be the theory of tapping right into a popular culture tale that lies rather underneath the outside. Right here is that this man who’s so vital within the nation track international — he impressed the trendy Big name Is Born, Morgan Wallen wrote a music about him and his track — and numerous folks don’t know his title. In an effort to discover this persona and this love tale that had permeated popular culture nation track in such an impactful manner and to introduce it to mainstream audiences is thrilling.”

In 2023, Shelton and Metzger based Fortunate Horseshoe Productions, which helmed the United States Community collection Barmageddon, and is in pre-production at the upcoming making a song pageant collection The Highway.