At 80, Don Reid Has Finally Broken His Silence About His Brother-In-Music, Jimmy Fortune. His Emotional Words Left Fans Across The Country In Tears…
It was an evening that felt more like a homecoming than a public appearance. Inside a packed auditorium in Staunton, Virginia — the hometown of the Statler Brothers — Don Reid, now 80 years old, stepped to the microphone and spoke words that silenced the room. For the first time, he opened his heart about the man who became his brother not by blood, but by music and faith: Jimmy Fortune.
Those who were there said Don’s voice carried the kind of emotion that only time and gratitude can give. “We started this journey together decades ago,” he began softly. “And when the road changed, when the faces on stage changed, one thing stayed the same — the music never lost its heart. And that’s because of Jimmy.”
For years, Don Reid has been known as the storyteller — the voice behind so many of the Statler Brothers’ timeless words. But on this night, his story wasn’t about lyrics or fame. It was about brotherhood — about the moment when the Statlers, after losing founding member Lew DeWitt, found themselves searching not for a replacement, but for a light to keep their harmony alive.
“When Jimmy walked in,” Don said, his eyes glistening under the warm lights, “we didn’t just find a tenor — we found a friend who could carry us through the rest of the journey. He didn’t try to be anyone else. He just brought his heart. And that heart healed us.”
The crowd, filled with longtime fans and friends of the group, sat in reverent silence as Don continued. “Lew’s spirit never left us,” he said. “But God knew we weren’t done singing yet — and He sent Jimmy. I believe that with all my heart.”
He paused then, looking toward the empty microphone beside him — a symbolic gesture that many noticed. “There’s a bond that happens when you sing with someone night after night,” he said quietly. “It’s not just the music that blends — it’s your lives. Jimmy became more than a singer to me. He became family.”
A few in the front row wiped their eyes as Don’s voice trembled. “People talk about fame,” he added. “But what matters more than any award or applause is knowing that when it was all said and done, we stood side by side — not as stars, but as brothers. And Jimmy… he made sure our harmony never died.”
When Don finished speaking, the audience rose to their feet — not to cheer, but to honor. The applause that followed was gentle, filled with affection, as if the whole room understood the sacredness of what they had just witnessed.
Across social media, the moment has since gone viral. Fans from around the country are calling it “the most emotional tribute in Statler Brothers history.” One post read, “Don Reid didn’t just speak — he poured his soul out. You could feel the love between him and Jimmy in every word.”
Jimmy Fortune, now 69, has long credited Don and Harold Reid for shaping his career and faith. Tonight, Don’s words returned that grace — a living testament to a friendship that has outlasted fame, time, and even the final curtain.
As Don stepped away from the microphone, he looked out at the crowd and said one last thing — simple, but unforgettable:
“Jimmy was never just the man who joined us. He was the man who helped us finish the song.”
And with that, the audience knew — it wasn’t just a speech. It was a farewell, a blessing, and a reminder that harmony isn’t just something you hear. It’s something you carry — in the heart, long after the music fades.