St. Louis Man Michael Goessling Learns Michael McDonald Is His Biological Father

DNA test leads to reunion

Michael Goessling, an American man adopted as a baby, learned at 58 that his biological father was Michael McDonald, the singer of The Doobie Brothers and a five-time Grammy winner.

Goessling said the discovery began when a half-sibling took a 23andMe DNA test and, “just 36 hours after the test was performed,” his brother received an email identifying him as a direct relative.

Goessling met his mother in person on the day he turned 58 and then had his first telephone conversation with his father shortly after.

Goessling said he asked what McDonald did for a living, and McDonald replied that he was a musician and planned to go on tour during the summer with a show in St. Louis.

Goessling then asked directly if the man was Michael McDonald, and the singer confirmed his identity, leading them to agree to meet in person.

Reporting for this sectionDiario HuarpeLa Prensa Austral

Voices from the call

Goessling told KMOV that he always knew he was adopted and that he had “a wonderful childhood,” adding, “I couldn’t have chosen two better people to raise me.”

Goessling recalled that during the phone call he asked, “Are you Michael McDonald?” and McDonald answered, “Yes, I’m afraid so,” as the tour plan and a stop in St. Louis helped make the connection.

McDonald described the reunion as closing a cycle of uncertainty, saying, “We always talked about him. And our greatest fear was always, how life treated him.”

McDonald also said he carried “that guilt,” but he found “a great reward” in knowing Goessling was okay and had a good life.

Goessling remembered McDonald welcoming him with a hug, and Goessling said McDonald “gave me a big old bear hug and told me he loved me.”

Reporting for this sectionLa Prensa AustralThe Times of India

What changes after meeting

McDonald said the reunion brought another surprise when he discovered he was a grandfather, because Goessling has children. Goessling said he and McDonald eventually met in person, and he described the moment as McDonald opening his arms, giving him a “big old bear hug,” and telling him he loved him. Goessling told KMOV that he had a “wonderful childhood” and that he had always been curious about his biological parents even after learning he was adopted.

McDonald said he praised Goessling’s adoptive parents, calling them “The real rock stars in this story are his adoptive parents.” The story also tied the family discovery to a 23andMe DNA match, which connected Goessling to his half-brother and set the chain of meetings in motion.

Reporting for this sectionComplexDiario Huarpe