Michael McDonald's biological son describes their reunion nearly 60 years after adoption

About 36 hours after one of Michael McDonald's sons swabbed his cheek for a 23andMe DNA test, an email arrived identifying a half-brother he had never heard of — a man named Michael Goessling, living in St. Louis, the same city where the Doobie Brothers singer grew up. That notification set off a chain of events that ended, nearly 60 years after Goessling was placed for adoption as an infant, with a bear hug and a declaration of love between a father and son meeting for the first time.

Goessling, now 58, described the reunion in a September 30 interview with St. Louis television station First Alert 4. McDonald also spoke with the station. Together, their accounts fill in a story McDonald had carried privately for decades — one he wrote about in his 2024 memoir, What a Fool Believes, but had never seen resolved until now.

McDonald was 14 years old when Goessling was conceived. Both he and the birth mother, Diane, were the same age. Diane's parents sent her away; she was pulled from school and separated from her friends. The two young people placed the baby for adoption, stayed in contact with each other across the years that followed, and never stopped wondering what had become of their son.

We always talked about him. And it always came down to, our greatest fear was, how did life treat him? I always carried that guilt with me. But just to know that he was okay and that he had a good life — and a life, certainly, that I wouldn't probably have been able to afford him at that time in my life, was a great reward.— Michael McDonald, singer

The DNA match did not begin with Goessling himself. According to First Alert 4, it was a half-brother Goessling did not know existed who took the test. Once that connection surfaced, Goessling was put in touch with his biological family. He met his birth mother in person on his 58th birthday. The phone call with his biological father came later — and Goessling did not immediately know who he was speaking with.

He asked the man on the other end of the line what he did for a living. The answer: musician, with a tour stop coming up in St. Louis that summer. Goessling put it together.

I finally said, 'Are you Michael McDonald?' And he said, 'Yeah, I'm afraid so.'— Michael Goessling

When they met in person, McDonald did not hold back.

When he first saw me, he put his arms out, gave me a big old bear hug, told me he loved me — and I told him the same.— Michael Goessling

The fact that both men are named Michael is a coincidence with no design behind it. Goessling was unnamed at birth; it was his adoptive mother, Kay, who gave him the name. He had always known he was adopted and described his upbringing warmly.

Had a wonderful childhood. I could not pick two finer folks to raise me.— Michael Goessling

McDonald echoed that sentiment directly, crediting Paul and Kay Goessling with giving his son everything he could not have provided at 14.

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, singer

The reunion also made McDonald a grandfather. Goessling has a wife and children, a fact McDonald said he was still absorbing.

That's still sinking into me. What a gift. My daughter-in-law is the daughter-in-law you'd hope for. And the kids are two of the greatest kids you'll ever meet. I'm just so proud of them.— Michael McDonald, singer

In What a Fool Believes, McDonald reflected on the road not taken — the version of events where he married Diane and tried to raise the child himself. He was candid about why that path would likely have failed.

I was a clueless eighth grader who, on the day I went to face her parents to discuss the situation, I actually pedaled over to her house on my sister's bicycle. Hardly the image to inspire confidence in your potential in-laws.— Michael McDonald, singer

The reunion became public through interviews with First Alert 4 in late September. It arrives during a period of renewed recognition for McDonald's songwriting: in June 2025, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside fellow Doobie Brothers writers Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons, with Garth Brooks introducing the trio at the ceremony, according to Music Times. McDonald co-wrote 'What a Fool Believes' with Kenny Loggins; the song won the Grammy for Song of the Year at the 1980 ceremony, and the Doobie Brothers' recording also won Record of the Year.

For Goessling, the discovery answered a question he had lived with his entire life without it defining him.

Why it matters — The reunion — resolved through a consumer DNA test after nearly 60 years — illustrates both the power of at-home genetic testing to upend family histories and the lasting emotional weight carried by those involved in adoptions, told here from both the birth parent's and the adoptee's point of view.

Reported by ew.com, musictimes.com, newsnationnow.com, ultimateclassicrock.com