Martina McBride and Daryl Schiff – “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels”: A Daughter’s Tribute to Her Father
Some performances are remembered not for the size of the stage, but for the depth of the love behind them. When Martina McBride invited her father, Daryl Schiff, to join her on stage at the Grand Ole Opry to sing “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels”, it wasn’t just another duet. It was a daughter saying thank you to the man who had given her the gift of music, and a father beaming with pride as he sang alongside the child he once raised on a small Kansas farm.
For Martina, the moment carried the weight of a lifetime. Long before she was one of country music’s most celebrated voices, she was simply a girl standing beside her dad, learning how to sing harmonies in the family band, The Schiffters. Daryl wasn’t just her father; he was her first teacher, her first duet partner, and the man who showed her that music could be both work and joy. Their kitchen-table jam sessions and weekend gigs were where Martina’s confidence first took shape. To share a microphone years later, in the circle of the Opry, was to bring that journey full circle.
The song itself could not have been more fitting. Originally recorded by Kitty Wells in 1952, “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” was a trailblazing anthem that gave women a strong voice in a genre dominated by men. By singing it with her father, Martina not only paid homage to one of the most important songs in country history, but also reminded the world of the bond between a daughter who once looked up to her father for guidance and a father who always believed in her dreams.
When Daryl walked onto the stage, the crowd erupted—not just for his presence, but for what it symbolized. Here was a proud father, no longer simply the man who raised cattle and worked long days in Sharon, Kansas, but the man whose quiet belief had helped create a superstar. Martina introduced him with emotion in her voice: “This is a really special night for me, because I’m able to bring out someone who taught me how to sing. Please welcome my dad.” The applause that followed was as much for him as it was for her.
As their voices blended, Martina’s polished power met Daryl’s weathered authenticity, and together they carried the song beyond melody. It became a testimony of legacy, a reminder that family roots nourish even the tallest trees. You could see it in Martina’s eyes—she wasn’t just performing. She was remembering every lesson, every car ride filled with music, every sacrifice her father made so she could chase her dream.
Daryl Schiff has since recorded his own album, Satisfied, with Martina’s help, but that Opry duet remains unforgettable. It was more than a performance—it was a living memory, a chance for Martina to give back what her father had poured into her life.
In a world where fame can sometimes eclipse family, Martina McBride’s choice to honor her dad on one of the most iconic stages in country music was a reminder of what truly matters. “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” will always be remembered as Kitty Wells’ pioneering anthem—but on that night, it also became a love letter between a daughter and her father. And for Martina McBride, the greatest award wasn’t applause or acclaim—it was seeing the pride in Daryl Schiff’s eyes as they sang together, forever bound by song and love.
