Dillon Carmichael Delivers Intimate Cover of Keith Whitley’s ‘Don’t Close Your Eyes’ [WATCH]

Dillon Carmichael recently stopped by Taste of Country's Live Studio Sessions to share an emotional take on Keith Whitley's 1988 classic, "Don't Close Your Eyes." Press play above to watch.

"I think that all aspects of Keith Whitley people love," Carmichael explains. "What I mean by that is if you've heard a Keith Whitley song one time, you love it. If you've heard it 100,000 times, you still love it. It never gets old."

Carmichael should know: A staunch traditionalist in his own right, the rising performer's roots in classic country run deep. He came of age amongst famous uncles John Michael Montgomery and Eddie Montgomery (of Montgomery Gentry), while his mom, Becky Montgomery, also performed in the Montgomery Family Band. He dedicates tribute to his musical legacy while also paying care and attention to his own craft, throwing all the weight of his deep, gravelly voice behind songs such as "Dancing Away With My Heart."

In this live performance, Carmichael addresses "Don't Close Your Eyes" with the same patience and gravity, slowing his performance down slightly and injecting each lyric and phrase with emotion. It's a song that is close to his heart; the singer tells Taste of Country that it was one of the first he ever learned to play on guitar.

Carmichael released his debut album, Hell on an Angel, in August of 2018. Produced by the legendary Dave Cobb, the 10-track record came out via Riser House Records and was recorded in Nashville's historic RCA Studio A. Later that year, the singer told The Boot that for a traditional country devotee like him, stepping into the hallowed halls of Studio A was akin to stepping into church.

He also shared that he won't stay out of the studio for long. "I wanna record an album every year. I'm one of those. That's what I'm here to do, is play music and record music, so I wanna keep doing that," Carmichael relates.

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