Duane Allen Reveals Heartfelt Tribute to Late Wife, “Ever With Me,” and Why He Can’t Perform It Live
Duane Allen, a central figure of the Country Music Hall of Fame group The Oak Ridge Boys, not only helped shape some of their most successful songs but also served as the band’s CEO. His dedication to the group solidified his place in country music history. Beyond his illustrious career, Allen’s life was deeply intertwined with his wife, Norah Lee Allen, a talented backup singer at the Grand Ole Opry. Sadly, Norah passed away just last year after a long illness, leaving a profound void in Allen’s life.
A Song Born of Grief
Allen and Norah Lee were married for over 50 years, and her passing drastically changed his world. At the time of her illness and subsequent death, The Oak Ridge Boys were in the studio working on their album, Mama’s Boys. Among the tracks on this album is the incredibly personal song, “Ever With Me,” which Allen recorded in her honor.
Allen admitted that recording the song deeply affected him. “There’s a song on here called ‘Ever With Me,’ and if you listen closely enough, you can hear the trembling in my voice,” he shared. Despite the raw emotion and the difficulty of getting through the recording, the band made a deliberate decision to include it on the album. “We decided to leave it on, because it was real,” Allen explained. “I was going through losing my wife during the recording process of that song, and it has a lot of emotion in it. I really like it.”
The Unperformed Tribute
While the album version of “Ever With Me” stands as a powerful tribute, fans of The Oak Ridge Boys may have noticed the song has never been performed live on stage. Even though the group had initially announced plans to retire in 2024, they’ve continued to tour throughout 2025, showing no signs of stepping away from the stage just yet.
Allen himself revealed the emotional reason behind the absence of “Ever With Me” from their live set. “We’ve not been able to do that on stage yet, because I’m not sure I can even get through it,” he confessed.
With Allen still visibly heartbroken by his wife’s passing, it remains uncertain if he will ever find the strength to perform this deeply personal tribute live. However, as The Oak Ridge Boys continue their musical journey, perhaps the future will bring a moment when he feels able to share this raw and emotional piece with his audience in person.