Adopted St. Louis man discovers Michael McDonald is his biological father
An adopted man from St. Louis, Missouri, learned on Oct. 2, 2026 that five‑time Grammy winner Michael McDonald is his biological father after a DNA test taken by McDonald’s younger son revealed a half‑brother named Michael Goessling.
The discovery came after the younger McDonald used a 23andMe ancestry test, which flagged a match with Goessling living in St. Louis, according to a KMOV‑TV report. The match prompted Goessling to receive a letter from an attorney representing his birth parents in May 2025, offering the chance to reconnect.
For his 58th birthday, Goessling reunited with his birth mother and later spoke with McDonald on the phone. When Goessling asked what McDonald did for work, the singer replied that he was a touring musician and would be in St. Louis that summer. Goessling recalled asking, “Are you Michael McDonald?” and receiving an affirmative answer.
Following the phone call, the two met in person and embraced, with McDonald telling his son that he loved him. The singer, 74, is best known for his tenure with the Doobie Brothers and hits such as “I Keep Forgettin’,” which debuted in 1982.
Goessling, who works as a supplier for construction projects, has grown a beard and hair during COVID‑19 lockdowns and says people often comment on his “whole Michael McDonald thing.” He is an avid Doobie Brothers fan and recalls witnessing a new Doobie Brothers song, “Takin’ It to the Streets,” for the first time.
McDonald’s memoir notes that he was in eighth grade when his teenage girlfriend became pregnant, leading to Goessling’s adoption. He later dropped out of school to pursue music but remained in contact with Goessling’s mother for three decades, hoping to locate their son.
In a phone interview with The New York Times, Goessling expressed gratitude to his adoptive parents, describing them as the “real rock stars” of his story and acknowledging the unexpected nature of discovering a Grammy‑winning rock legend as his father.
The reunion also introduced McDonald to his new grandchildren—Goessling’s 16‑year‑old son and 13‑year‑old daughter. McDonald reflected, “I’m still wrapping my head around that,” and praised Goessling’s wife as the daughter‑in‑law he hoped for.
