In the hallowed halls of country music history, few stories resonate with as much heartbreak and loyalty as that of The Statler Brothers. For decades, they were more than a band; they were a brotherhood, a single voice that defined a generation. But a shadow fell upon this legendary group, forcing a decision that echoes to this day, a choice that frontman Don Reid is only now truly opening up about.
The unthinkable moment arrived when original tenor, the beloved Lew DeWitt, had to step away due to his debilitating battle with Crohn’s disease. The music, the very soul of the group, was at a painful crossroads. For fans, the idea of The Statler Brothers without Lew was unimaginable. For the group, it was a waking nightmare. How could they possibly go on?
In a raw, emotionally charged interview that has fans talking, Don Reid finally pulled back the curtain on the group’s darkest hour. “It wasn’t just a musical decision,” Reid confessed, his voice heavy with the memory of those trying times. “It was a matter of the heart.” The weight of that statement hangs in the air, a testament to the agonizing choice between loyalty to a brother and a promise to the music and their faithful audience. The decision to find a replacement was, as Reid puts it, one of the most difficult things they ever had to do.
Into this crucible of emotion stepped a young, relatively unknown singer named Jimmy Fortune. The pressure was immense. He wasn’t just filling a spot; he was stepping into the shoes of a legend, a brother. The world was watching, and the hearts of millions of fans were hanging in the balance.
“I remember seeing them for the first time with the new fella,” recounts Johnathan Carter, a 68-year-old fan from Nashville who has seen the group perform over 20 times since the 1970s. “A lot of us were skeptical. We missed Lew terribly. But then Jimmy started to sing… oh, that voice. He didn’t try to be Lew. He was himself, and he poured every ounce of his soul into those songs. You could feel his respect for the legacy.”
It was a bittersweet transition, a chapter of their story defined by loss but also by resilience. Reid’s admission reveals the deep emotional scars left by the ordeal. It was a decision that had to be made, not for business or for fame, but for the preservation of a legacy and out of love for a brother who could no longer take the stage. It was a torch-passing born of necessity and handled with a grace that fans, to this day, can’t help but acknowledge.
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Lew DeWitt, a founding member of the Statlers, had been with the group from the very beginning — his soaring tenor and warm spirit helping shape their unmistakable harmony and identity. But by the early 1980s, Lew’s battle with Crohn’s disease had taken its toll.
“Lew was in constant pain,” Don recalled. “But he never complained. He loved the music and he loved being on stage. Letting go wasn’t something any of us wanted to do — it was something we had to do.”
In 1982, with Lew’s health declining, the Statler Brothers made the heartbreaking decision to bring in a new voice. Enter Jimmy Fortune, a young singer from Virginia with a gentle spirit, powerful range, and big shoes to fill.
“We didn’t want a clone of Lew,” Don explained. “We wanted someone who could respect the legacy — and add something new to it.”
And that’s exactly what Jimmy did.
Don spoke candidly about how Lew himself helped make the transition easier, blessing the group’s decision and even offering encouragement to Jimmy. “That was just the kind of man Lew was,” Don said, his voice heavy with emotion. “Gracious, humble, and full of love. He didn’t see Jimmy as a threat. He saw him as family.”
The transition was emotional for fans, too. But over time, Jimmy not only honored Lew’s legacy — he built one of his own.
“Jimmy walked into the hardest role in country music, and he never once acted like he deserved it,” Don said. “He earned every note, every standing ovation.”
Today, looking back, Don says it wasn’t about replacing anyone. It was about continuing a mission — to make music that told the truth, healed hearts, and stayed rooted in brotherhood.
“We lost Lew far too soon,” Don said quietly. “But every time Jimmy sings, I hear a little of Lew in there too — not in the sound, but in the spirit.”
For fans of The Statler Brothers, this moment of reflection is a powerful reminder: behind every harmony was a story of pain, courage, and grace.
And if you want to feel what that transition sounded like, this song still carries both voices in its soul.
