Michael Goessling, a 58-year-old man from St. Louis, Missouri, found out his birth father is Michael McDonald, the singer best known for his work with the Doobie Brothers and hits like “What a Fool Believes,” after his half-brother took a 23andMe DNA test.
Goessling was adopted as an infant by Paul and Kay Goessling, and he always knew he wasn’t biologically related to his adoptive parents. But he never stopped wondering about the people who brought him into the world. His biological mother and father were both 14 years old when he was put up for adoption, and he had never heard from either of them.
That changed in a matter of days. Goessling was contacted by a half-brother he didn’t know existed, who had taken a 23andMe DNA test. Within 36 hours, Goessling received an email notification: “Michael Goessling, half-brother, St. Louis.” That was the start of a journey that would lead him to meeting his birth mother in person on his 58th birthday, and then speaking with his biological father on the phone.
The Phone Call That Changed Everything
When Goessling called his biological father, he asked what he did for a career. The answer was immediate: McDonald is a musician. Then came the reveal.
“And I said, ‘Are you Michael McDonald?'” Goessling recalled. “And he said, ‘Yeah, I’m afraid so.'”
That Michael McDonald is the same Michael McDonald who is associated with the Doobie Brothers and known for “What a Fool Believes,” “This Is It,” and “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near).” The shared first name was not an intentional choice by his adopted parents. It was pure coincidence.
Goessling’s biological mother and father have remained close over the years, discussing their son regularly. Their worry was simple: how did life treat him?
“We always talked about him,” McDonald told KCTV 5. “And it always came down to our greatest fear was, how did life treat him?” McDonald admitted carrying guilt with him for years. “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, was a great reward. The real rock stars in this story are his adoptive parents.”
The Bear Hug That Sealed It
Goessling and McDonald eventually met in person. The moment was emotional.
“When he first saw me, he put his arms out, gave me a big old bear hug and told me he loved me, and I told him the same,” Goessling said.
The reunion was a physical affirmation of what the phone call had promised. After decades of wondering, Goessling finally met the man who had fathered him.
McDonald’s Grandchildren
The story didn’t end with Goessling finding his father. McDonald learned something else during the pair’s first meeting.
“Yeah, I’m still wrapping my head around that,” McDonald told KCTV 5. He added: “My daughter-in-law is just the daughter-in-law you’d hope for. And the kids are two of the greatest kids you’d ever meet. I’m just so proud of them.”
The news hit McDonald fast. He learned he is a grandfather.
A Happy Ending for a Long Search
Goessling’s discovery is a remarkable story of connection. He grew up knowing he was adopted, but he always felt loved by his adoptive parents. He had a wonderful childhood, and he credits them entirely.
“Always knew I was adopted,” Goessling said. “Had a wonderful childhood. I could not pick two finer folks to raise me.”
The catalyst was his half-brother’s DNA test, which connected Goessling to the half-brother he didn’t know existed. That half-brother then connected Goessling to his birth mother. On his 58th birthday, he met her in person. Later, he spoke with his biological father on the phone. And then they met face-to-face.
“The real rock stars in this story are his adoptive parents.”
That line captures the heart of the story. Goessling’s adoptive parents raised him without knowing his biological background, and they gave him a life McDonald admits he couldn’t have afforded him. The biological connection is powerful, but the people who actually raised him are the ones who made his life what it is.
The story is a reminder that family can be complicated. Sometimes the answers we’ve been looking for our whole lives are waiting for us in the strangest places.
This is a happy ending. Goessling found his birth parents, learned his father is a famous musician, and got a bear hug on their first meeting. The story carries warmth and love.
Source material: “A 58-Year-Old Adopted Man Just Met His Biological Father: Michael McDonald,” Rolling Stone.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.