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On April 25, 1988, George Strait released the emotional song “Baby Blue” as the second single off of his album If You Ain’t Lovin’, You Ain’t Livin’. Although it has never been confirmed, many believe the song connects to the tragic death of George’s daughter, Jenifer.

George and his wife, Norma, welcomed Jenifer into the world on October 6, 1972. She was their first child together, and they welcomed their son “Bubba” nine years later.

In 1986, the little family was shaken by tragedy when 13-year-old Jenifer was killed in a car accident. Jenifer was sitting in the front passenger’s seat and was partially ejected when the car flipped over. She was killed upon impact, and George’s life was forever changed.

George tried to lay low and stopped doing interviews for several years following Jenifer’s death. But that didn’t stop him from discussing his feelings in song, particularly “Baby Blue.”

Although “Baby Blue” was not written by George himself, it seems it was written with him in mind. The song’s narrator speaks about a beautiful girl with bright blue eyes, just like Jenifer’s own baby blues.

The narrator mourns the loss of his blue-eyed girl in the chorus, as he sings, “And baby blue was the color of her eyes. Baby blue like the Colorado skies. Like a breath of spring, she came and left, and I still don’t know why.“

The emotional song was a major chart success, and claimed the top spot on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart following its release.

Besides “Baby Blue,” George has made sure that Jenifer’s spirit lives on through the creation of a charity in her name, called the Jenifer Lynn Strait Foundation. The organization has donated money to San Antonio children’s charities, and remains active to this day.

You can listen to an audio clip of George singing his heartbreaking song “Baby Blue” below. May Jenifer rest in peace.

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