Introduction
At 71, Jimmy Fortune Finally Tells the Truth About the Statler Brothers
For more than two decades, Jimmy Fortune stood shoulder to shoulder with the Statler Brothers, helping create the sound that made the legendary quartet one of country music’s most beloved groups. Now, years after their retirement, Fortune’s reflections on those days offer a more personal look at the friendships, sacrifices, and difficult moments behind the smiles audiences saw onstage.
But the “disturbing truth” suggested by sensational headlines is not supported by reliable evidence of a hidden scandal. The real story is more complicated—and, in many ways, more emotional.
Fortune was born in Virginia in 1955 and grew up surrounded by music. He eventually joined the Statler Brothers in 1982 after original member Lew DeWitt was forced to leave because of serious health problems. Fortune initially expected the opportunity to be temporary, but DeWitt ultimately could not return, and Fortune became a permanent member. (Jimmy Fortune)
That decision changed his life.
For the next 21 years, Fortune toured and recorded with the Statlers. He was not simply a replacement singer. He quickly became an important creative force within the group.
He wrote “Elizabeth,” “My Only Love,” and “Too Much on My Heart,” all of which reached No. 1 on the country charts. He also wrote “Forever” and co-wrote “More Than a Name on a Wall.” (Jimmy Fortune)
Behind those successes, however, was the exhausting reality of life on the road.
The Statler Brothers maintained one of country music’s busiest touring careers for decades. They performed across the United States and Canada, recorded constantly, appeared on television, and eventually hosted The Statler Brothers Show on the Nashville Network. Their television program became one of the network’s highest-rated shows. (Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)
For Fortune, joining the group also meant entering an established family-like relationship.
He was the youngest member of the famous quartet, joining Don Reid, Harold Reid, and Phil Balsley after they had already spent decades together. Fortune later described becoming part of the Statlers as one of the greatest opportunities of his life. (Jimmy Fortune)
There were certainly difficult moments.
Lew DeWitt’s illness had forced an enormous change in the group. Later, Harold Reid would face serious health problems before his death in 2020. The passing of members and friends reminded Fortune that the era he had once known could never last forever.
Yet the Statlers’ story was not built on scandal.
It was built on loyalty, faith, music, humor, and an extraordinary amount of hard work.
The group eventually retired from touring in 2002 after nearly four decades together. They were later inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008, recognizing their enormous contribution to country and gospel music. (Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)
Fortune, meanwhile, refused to let the end of the Statlers become the end of his musical journey.
He launched a successful solo career, recording country and gospel projects and continuing to tour. His later work has often reflected on the people and experiences that shaped him, including his years with the Statler Brothers. (Jimmy Fortune)
Perhaps that is the real truth Jimmy Fortune has revealed.
The Statler Brothers were not perfect men living a perfect life behind the curtain. They were working musicians who experienced illness, heartbreak, disagreements, aging, and loss—just like everyone else.
But they kept singing.
And Jimmy Fortune carried those memories with him.
The disturbing truth isn’t that the Statler Brothers secretly hid some terrible scandal.
It is that even the happiest chapters eventually come to an end.
For Fortune, those 21 years remain a priceless part of his life—and the music they created together continues to outlive them all.