Conway Twitty’s Children: Love, Loss, and the Fight to Protect a Legacy
Behind the glitter of Conway Twitty’s record-breaking career lay a family story filled with both triumph and heartbreak. His children lived in the shadow of one of country music’s most celebrated voices, each carving their own path — some stepping into the spotlight, others walking quietly away — but all forever tied to the man who called them his greatest pride.
Michael Twitty – The Firstborn and the Torchbearer
Born in 1953 to Conway (then Harold Jenkins) and Ellen Matthews, Michael Twitty arrived during a whirlwind chapter of his father’s early life. Their marriage, rushed by circumstance, lasted only a year, but Michael’s bond with Conway endured despite the distance.
Michael often says he grew up with “three dads” — his grandfather “Papa,” his Uncle Howard, and Conway himself — each shaping his values in different ways. By age eight, Michael was already appearing on stage with Conway, a glimpse of the life that would one day become his calling.
In the 1970s, Michael signed with Capitol Records, releasing Mississippi Rolling Stone and The Closest Thing to You, later recording under the name Charlie Tango. His 1984 album Rambling Man, produced by Conway and featuring him as guest vocalist, remains one of their most cherished collaborations.
The most profound moment came the night Conway died in 1993. Michael awoke to the overpowering scent of his father’s English Leather cologne — a fragrance he never kept in his home — convinced it was Conway’s way of saying, “I’m still here.” Since then, Michael has devoted his life to preserving his father’s music, often performing alongside his own son, Trey, to keep the Twitty legacy alive.
Joni Lee Twitty – The Unexpected Star
Born July 2, 1957, to Conway and his second wife, Mickey Medley, Joni Lee Twitty became the center of one of the most surprising episodes in Conway’s career.
At 16, she was invited into the studio to record what she thought was a demo of a song Conway had written years earlier — Don’t Cry, Joni. She believed her vocals would be replaced, but Conway released it as the final cut. The father-daughter duet became a hit, peaking at No. 4 on the country charts and crossing into the pop Top 100.
Though the song launched her own career — recording as Joni Penn with MCA Records — controversy over its storyline (a teenage girl pursuing an older man) and the circumstances of its recording left her legacy complicated. Today, Joni Lee Riyles lives quietly in Nashville, married to respected musician John Wesley Ryles.
Kathy Twitty – The Fighter
Kathy Twitty, another of Conway’s children with Mickey Medley, pursued music under the stage name Jessica James. Her career included appearances on Pop Goes the Country and membership in The Next Generation, a group featuring the daughters of Loretta Lynn, George Jones & Tammy Wynette, and Johnny Cash.
But Kathy’s biggest battle came after Conway’s death, when his will — never updated after his marriage to fourth wife Dolores “Dee” Henry — sparked a brutal 14-year legal war. Conway had built Twitty City as a forever home for his family, but court rulings forced his children and 81-year-old mother to leave. Watching her father’s personal belongings auctioned to strangers remains, in Kathy’s words, “like losing him all over again.”
Jimmy Twitty – The Quiet Soul
The youngest of Conway’s children with Mickey Medley, Jimmy Twitty deliberately avoided the music business. Content to live outside the public eye, he supported his siblings’ careers quietly.
Jimmy was also forced from his Twitty City home after Conway’s death, and he too witnessed the painful auction of the family’s most personal keepsakes. While he remains private, he has participated in select memorial events, such as the 2020 dedication of Conway Twitty Lane in Hendersonville, Tennessee — honoring his father in his own quiet way.
A Legacy Bound by Love and Loss
For all the success Conway Twitty achieved — 55 No. 1 hits, sold-out tours, and a name etched into country music history — his most lasting impact may be the love his children still carry. Whether on stage like Michael, in memories like Joni, in resilience like Kathy, or in quiet tribute like Jimmy, Conway’s presence lives on.
Twitty City may be gone, but the songs remain — and with them, the heartbeat of a family that endured joy, pain, and the unshakable bond of love for the man they called Dad.