Country music singer-songwriter Chris Young owns a piece of country music history. It’s a guitar once owned and played by the late, great country music legend Keith Whitley.

Keith was on track to be one of the biggest stars in country music when he tragically died at the age of 33 in 1989. Chris found himself in a place to purchase one of Keith’s guitars and could not pass on the opportunity.

“They found this guitar that Keith actually owned and played, and it was one of the three guitars that he used on the road between ’84 and ’89, right before he died, when he was really, you know, having number-ones and having hits. And it’s so cool. It’s still got the original luggage tag on it with his signature. I don’t buy much stuff, but when that came by, I was like, ‘That’s one of a kind. I gotta have that.’ So … and I’m a huge Keith Whitley fan anyway, so for me, it means a lot to have it.”

Chris explains that the guitar is in great shape, but it does have signs on it that Keith actually played the guitar.

“It’s got all the dings and the scratches, but it’s in really, really great shape for being as old as it is. I mean, you think about I think … I’m not exactly sure what year, but I think it’s early ’80s, so, I mean, just the fact that the guitar has held up this well and the case is in such great shape, and it’s actually the original case. And yeah, I geeked-out a little bit over that.”

The latest single from Chris is the song “Famous Friends” featuring Kane Brown which you can hear on Bloomington-Normal’s #1 Country, B104. I guess that guitar could be considered the most famous friend Chris has.

Do you own something that you purchased because of the story behind it instead of a practical need for it?

By: Buck Stevens