St. Louis Man Learns Michael McDonald is His Biological Father Almost 60 Years After He Was Adopted
St. Louis Man Learns Michael McDonald is His Biological Father Almost 60 Years After He Was Adopted
Lily BrownThu, October 1, 2026 at 8:29 PM UTC
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Michael Goessling, biological son of Michael McDonaldCredit: KMOV St. Louis/YouTube -
Michael Goessling discovered five-time Grammy winner Michael McDonald was his father after a half-brother took a 23andMe test
Goessling met his birth mother on his 58th birthday and later shared an emotional reunion with McDonald
McDonald said he carried guilt for decades but praised Goessling’s adoptive parents for giving him a happy childhood
A St. Louis man who spent decades wondering about his biological roots got the surprise of a lifetime when a DNA test revealed his biological father was five-time Grammy Award winner Michael McDonald.
Michael Goessling, who was placed for adoption as an infant, told KMOV St. Louis in a new interview that he “always knew” he was adopted. But he also always wondered about the parents he never knew.
He was raised by adopted parents Paul and Kay in St. Louis, whom he credits with giving him a happy childhood.
“Always knew I was adopted,” Goessling said. “I had a wonderful childhood. I could not have handpicked two finer folks to raise me.”
Nearly six decades after he was born, the mystery surrounding his biological family finally began to unravel when a half-brother he didn’t know existed took a 23andMe DNA test.
“Within 36 hours, he got an email notifying him: Michael Goessling, half-brother, St. Louis,” Goessling said. “And that’s how this all began.”
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On his 58th birthday, Goessling met his birth mother in person. He later connected with his biological father over the phone, and as they talked, Goessling asked what he did for a living.
His father explained that he was a musician and preparing to tour through St. Louis that summer.
Michael McDonald in 1998Credit: BSR Agency/Gentle Look via Getty
“And then I finally said, ‘Are you Michael McDonald?’” Goessling said. “And he said, ‘Yeah, I’m afraid so.’”
Goessling’s father was indeed McDonald, the 74-year-old singer-songwriter and Doobie Brothers member. And the fact that father and son share the same first name was purely coincidental.
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“I was unnamed, so it was my mom, Kay, who named me,” explained Goessling.
According to KMOV, Goessling’s biological parents were both 14 years old when he was conceived. Though they did not raise him, the “What a Fool Believes” singer and Goessling’s biological mother have remained close friends over the years.
For McDonald, learning what had become of his son after all those years brought a mix of emotion and relief. During a FaceTime call, he recalled the uncertainty he had carried with him for decades.
“I always carried that guilt with me,” the singer said. “But just to know that he was okay and that he had a good life, and a life certainly that I wouldn’t have been able to afford him at that time in my life, was a great reward. The real rock stars in this story for us are his adoptive parents, who really gave Michael everything a child needs in terms of love and security.”
Michael McDonald performs at the ASCAP Annual Membership Meeting and EXPO Kickoff on April 13, 2017Credit: Lester Cohen/Getty
Goessling and McDonald eventually met in person, turning a decades-old mystery into a long-awaited family reunion.
“He just put his arms out, just gave me a big old bear hug and told me he loved me, and I told him the same,” Goessling said.
“It was a wonderful, wonderful experience to see Michael and get to meet my son after all these years thinking about him,” said McDonald.
And the reunion came with another unexpected milestone: McDonald was suddenly a grandfather.
“Yeah, that’s still sinking in for me. What a gift,” McDonald said with a laugh. “My daughter-in-law is just the daughter-in-law you’d hope for as a parent. And the kids are two of the greatest kids you’d ever meet. I’m just so proud of them.”
McDonald is currently on tour with the Doobie Brothers. In 2024, he also published his tell-all memoir, What a Fool Believes, which details his career with Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers, as well as his journey to sobriety.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
