The Michael McDonald biological son story took a remarkable turn when the Doobie Brothers singer reconnected with Michael Goessling, a man he and his teenage girlfriend placed for adoption nearly six decades ago, NBC News reported. The two have been in touch for about a year and a half.
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How the Michael McDonald biological son reunion began
Goessling, now in his late 50s and living in the St. Louis area, was adopted as a baby in a closed adoption. He had no contact with his birth parents until May 2025, when they reached out by letter asking to connect, NBC Washington reported. According to that account, the outreach came after a half-brother located him through a 23andMe DNA test, which gave the birth family a way to find the son they had not seen since he was an infant. The Fox News account says Goessling’s birth parents were both 14-year-old eighth graders when he was born and that their families chose adoption through Catholic Charities.
The first call with his father turned into a guessing game. Goessling said the voice on the line sounded oddly familiar, and he could not place it. When the caller mentioned he was playing at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater on Sept. 4, 2025, Goessling checked the venue’s schedule and saw that the Doobie Brothers were on the bill. He then asked, “Are you Michael McDonald?” and McDonald confirmed it.
A first meeting before the concert
The family met in person the evening before the show, according to NBC Washington. Goessling told NBC he still sometimes wakes up feeling as if he came out of “the craziest dream.” He also told Fox News that he had attended McDonald concerts twice as a paying fan in the 1980s and early 1990s, long before he knew they were related.
Fox News reported that Goessling’s birth mother searched for him for decades. Goessling has said he holds no resentment, and he told NBC he wanted to thank his birth parents for the choices they made and for giving him a chance in life.
Who is Michael McDonald?
McDonald, who was born Feb. 12, 1952, joined the Doobie Brothers in April 1975 as a temporary replacement for Tom Johnston, who had become ill on tour. Before that, he had worked as a session and touring musician, including with Steely Dan. His first album with the group was 1976’s Takin’ It to the Streets. The band kept him after he proved a success, and his voice shaped its biggest hits, including “What a Fool Believes,” a No. 1 song in the United States, and “Real Love,” which reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1980. McDonald has won five Grammy Awards, including record of the year and song of the year for “What a Fool Believes.”
For more on his music, see our report on the Doobie Brothers and Santana tour, our look at the top five yacht rock artists and the 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame nominees.
Where the father and son stand now
Fox News reported that McDonald and Goessling speak frequently and text regularly. Goessling has said he hopes his story helps change how people talk about adoption, and he told Fox News he wants it to lift the way adoption is viewed across the country. The couple, then just 14, made the decision as children, and Goessling says he sees adoption as a blessing.
