LEGENDARY REVEAL — Don Reid of The Statler Brothers Opens Up About “AMEN,” Their Final Album
For decades, The Statler Brothers gave America not only music but memories — songs that blended country roots, gospel harmony, and storytelling that felt as if it came straight from the front porch. Now, in a rare and emotional conversation with the Gaither team, Don Reid, the group’s longtime lead singer and songwriter, has finally opened up about the stories behind “AMEN,” the group’s very last album.
Released in 2002, “AMEN” was more than just a collection of songs. It was a farewell letter, a benediction, and a testimony from a quartet whose voices had carried generations through both joy and sorrow. For years, fans speculated about what the final project meant to the Statlers, but Don Reid, known for his quiet humility, had never spoken at length about its deeper meaning — until now.
“We didn’t set out to make a final record,” Don admitted during the conversation. “But we knew, deep down, that our time as a group was drawing to a close. Every note, every lyric felt heavier. It felt like we were saying goodbye without actually saying the words.”
Songs on “AMEN” carried the hallmarks of Statler tradition: gospel undertones, heartfelt harmonies, and the unmistakable blend of Don’s storytelling tenor with Harold Reid’s deep bass, balanced by the voices of Phil Balsley and Jimmy Fortune. Yet beneath the music lay something more profound — an awareness that this chapter was ending.
One track in particular, Don shared, still stirs him whenever he hears it. “There was a moment when Harold’s voice dropped in, and I remember thinking, ‘This may be the last time the world hears that sound.’ It broke me. But it also gave me peace, because I knew we were leaving something behind that mattered.”
The Statler Brothers had begun their career singing backup for Johnny Cash in the early 1960s, eventually carving out a path that brought them multiple Grammy Awards, Country Music Association honors, and induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Their blend of humor, history, gospel, and heart set them apart in country music — and made them one of the most beloved quartets in American music history.
By the time “AMEN” was released, the Statlers had already decided to step away from touring. “We didn’t want to fade away,” Don said softly. “We wanted to walk away while we could still sing with strength and give people the best of us.”
The Gaither team noted how emotional the session became as Don reflected not just on the songs, but on the friendships and faith that held the group together for nearly four decades. Tears were shed, but laughter filled the room too — much like a Statler Brothers concert itself.
For fans, hearing Don Reid speak so openly about “AMEN” is a gift. It offers closure, but also a reminder that music rooted in truth never truly ends. The harmonies may have stopped, but the echoes remain.
As Don concluded, his words carried the quiet weight of a man looking back with gratitude: “We sang together for 40 years. But the songs live forever. That’s the real amen.”