Love and Loss: Kenny Goss Remembers George Michael
By Brian Curtis ••
Ever since the sudden death of pop superstar George Michael, his former partner has stayed out of the spotlight. But now North Texan Kenny Goss is sharing memories of the man with whom he shared much of his life.
Ever since the sudden death of pop superstar George Michael, his former partner has stayed out of the spotlight. But now North Texan Kenny Goss is sharing memories of the man with whom he shared much of his life.
"I really miss him," Goss said in an exclusive interview with NBC 5.
Goss met Michael in Los Angeles in 1996.
"We just met out in L.A. at a restaurant. He asked me out," Goss said.
That was the beginning of a relationship that would last more than two decades, first as a couple and later as friends.
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The British pop duo Wham!, Andrew Ridgeley on guitar and George Michael on vocals, performs during a concert in Peking, China, April 7, 1985.
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English singer and musician George Michael, circa 1988.
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Pop star George Michael, then age 30, outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Oct. 18, 1993, at the start of his court action against Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd. Michael is suing to have his 1988 contract with Sony, which could run for another 12 to 15 years, declared unenforceable.
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British rock star George Michael performs in concert in March 1991.
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WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - MAY 21: Musician George Michael poses at the Sunset Virgin Megastore where he made an apperance to sign copies of his new CD "Patience" on May 21, 2004 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - MAY 21: Musician George Michael poses at the Sunset Virgin Megastore where he made an apperance to sign copies of his new CD "Patience" on May 21, 2004 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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BERLIN - FEBRUARY 16: Singer George Michael poses at the "George Michael: A Different Story" Photocall during the 55th annual Berlinale International Film Festival on February 16, 2005 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
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BERLIN - FEBRUARY 16: Singer George Michael signs autographs for fans as he arrives for the "George Michael - A Different Story" World Premiere at Kino International during the 55th annual Berlinale International Film Festival on February 16, 2005 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
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LONDON - JULY 02: Singer George Michael performs on stage at "Live 8 London" in Hyde Park on July 2, 2005 in London, England. The free concert is one of ten simultaneous international gigs including Philadelphia, Berlin, Rome, Paris, Barrie, Tokyo, Cornwall, Moscow and Johannesburg. The concerts precede the G8 summit (July 6-8) to raising awareness for MAKEpovertyHISTORY. (Photo by MJ Kim/Getty Images)
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LONDON - JULY 02: (L to R) Musicians Pete Townhsend from The Who, George Michael and David Gilmour from Pink Floyd perform "Hey Jude" with children on stage at the finale of "Live 8 London" in Hyde Park on July 2, 2005 in London, England. The free concert is one of ten simultaneous international gigs including Philadelphia, Berlin, Rome, Paris, Barrie, Tokyo, Cornwall, Moscow and Johannesburg. The concerts precede the G8 summit (July 6-8) to raising awareness for MAKEpovertyHISTORY. (Photo by MJ Kim/Getty Images)
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In this July 2, 2005, file photo, singer George Michael performs on stage at "Live 8 London" in Hyde Park in London, England. (Photo by MJ Kim/Getty Images)
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LONDON - JULY 2: Singers George Michael (L) and Sir Paul McCartney perform on stage at "Live 8 London" in Hyde Park on July 2, 2005 in London, England. The free concert is one of ten simultaneous international gigs including Philadelphia, Berlin, Rome, Paris, Barrie, Tokyo, Cornwall, Moscow and Johannesburg. The concerts precede the G8 summit (July 6-8) to raising awareness for MAKEpovertyHISTORY. (Photo by MJ Kim/Getty Images)
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LONDON - DECEMBER 05: Singer George Michael (left) and Kenny Goss arrive at the VIP preview screening of "A Different Story", a documentary based on George Michael's life, at the Curzon Mayfair on December 5, 2005 in London, England. (Photo by MJ Kim/Getty Images)
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LONDON - DECEMBER 05: Singer George Michael (left) and Kenny Goss arrive at the VIP preview screening of "A Different Story", a documentary based on George Michael's life, at the Curzon Mayfair on December 5, 2005 in London, England. (Photo by MJ Kim/Getty Images)
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TOKYO, JAPAN - DECEMBER 15: British pop star George Michael and his partner Kenny Goss attend the Japanese Premiere of his film "A Different Story" on December 15, 2005 in Tokyo, Japan. The fim will open on December 23 in Japan. (Photo by Junko Kimura/Getty Images)
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TOKYO, JAPAN - DECEMBER 15: British pop star George Michael and his partner Kenny Goss attend the Japanese Premiere of his film "A Different Story" on December 15, 2005 in Tokyo, Japan. The fim will open on December 23 in Japan. (Photo by Junko Kimura/Getty Images)
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LONDON - MAY 08: Former Wham! singer George Michael (L) leaves Brent Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to a charge of driving while unfit through drugs on May 8, 2007 in London. He appeared under his real name Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
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LONDON - JUNE 9: Singer George Michael performs the first concert at the newly rebuilt Wembley Stadium on June 9, 2007 in London. (Photo by Jim Dyson/Getty Images)
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LONDON - JUNE 9: Singer George Michael performs the first concert at the newly rebuilt Wembley Stadium on June 9, 2007 in London. (Photo by Jim Dyson/Getty Images)
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LONDON - JUNE 9: Singer George Michael performs the first concert at the newly rebuilt Wembley Stadium on June 9, 2007 in London. (Photo by Jim Dyson/Getty Images)
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SAN DIEGO - JUNE 17: Singer George Michael performs at the Sports Arena on June 17, 2008 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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SAN DIEGO - JUNE 17: Singer George Michael performs at the Sports Arena on June 17, 2008 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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SAN DIEGO - JUNE 17: Singer George Michael performs at the Sports Arena on June 17, 2008 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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LONDON - NOVEMBER 18: Musician George Michael (R) and his partner Kenny Goss arrive at the UK film premiere of 'Sleuth' at the Odeon West End on November 18, 2007 in London, England. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images)
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Legendary pop singer George Michael performs in concert at the Zayed Sports City stadium in Abu Dhabi on December 1, 2008. Grammy award winning soul singer and songwriter Alicia Keys opened the show for Michael, his first performance in the Middle East. AFP PHOTO/KARIM SAHIB (Photo credit should read KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 24: Singer George Michael (C) leaves Highbury Corner Magistrates Court surrounded by press and police on August 24, 2010 in London, England. Mr Michael pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs and possessing cannabis after he crashed his car into a photo processing shop in London on July 4, 2010. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
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British singer George Michael leaves his house in north London, Dec. 23, 2011. George Michael, short of breath and appearing weak, said he has recovered from a life-threatening bout with pneumonia that kept him in a Vienna hospital for a month.
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British singer George Michael performs at a concert to raise money for AIDS charity Sidaction, during the Symphonica tour at Palais Garnier Opera house in Paris, France, Sept. 9, 2012.
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British singer George Michael performs at a concert to raise money for AIDS charity Sidaction, during the Symphonica tour at Palais Garnier Opera house in Paris, France, Sept. 9, 2012.
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: George Michael performs during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: George Michael performs during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
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George Michael performs during the Closing Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Aug. 12, 2012, in London.
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: George Michael performs during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: George Michael performs during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
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George Michael performs during the Closing Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London.
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GORING, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 27: Fans gather around floral tributes left outside the Oxfordshire home of British pop singer George Michael on December 27, 2016 in Goring, England. Singer George Michael died on Christmas day in his country home in Oxfordshire at the age of 53 on December 25. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 28: Tributes of flowers, photographs and candles are left outside the home of pop music icon George Michael in The Grove, Highgate on December 28, 2016 in London, England. Singer George Michael died on Christmas day in his country home in Oxfordshire at the age of 53 on December 25. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
The two men shared a life in the glare of George Michael's worldwide fame.
"I don't think he liked being a star at all when I met him. I don't think he got into music at all for fame. He just loved being a musician," Goss said.
There were difficult times, like Michael's arrest for cruising for sex in a public restroom.
"When somebody’s being so crazy publicly … I just loved him, certainly didn't judge him. It was bad enough everybody else was talking about it," Goss explained. "I think we both wished certainly that we would have stayed together."
Michael would write several songs about his relationship with Goss. "Amazing," "American Angel" and "Where I Hope You Are," are all about their life together.
The two also started the Goss-Michael Foundation in Dallas, which raises money for charities and helps develop young artists. The foundation has raised millions of dollars for causes such as the MTV Staying Alive Foundation dedicated to the prevention of HIV/AIDS.
The grand opening of the Goss Gallery generated a lot of buzz in Dallas in 2005.
Generosity was a priority for Michael. Goss said his partner gave away tens of millions of dollars, almost always anonymously.
"He always said to me more than once, 'How much money does someone really need? So many people think I've got to keep all this money and be super rich.' He really believed that you help people a lot and you only need a certain amount of money in your bank account," Goss said.
Fans learned in 2011 that the couple had split. Goss said there were no hard feelings.
"There's no huge story at all. There's no craziness that I got upset or he was upset with me," Goss said.
Goss said they continued their friendship and stayed connected through their work with the foundation.
Goss Gallery owner Kenny Goss explains in this 2005 interview how he got hooked on beautiful artwork and dreamed of opening his own gallery. NBC 5's Todd Wallace reports.
Goss learned of Michael's death on Christmas Day in a phone call from Michael's manager, Michael Lippman.
"I said, 'Hey, Michael, how you doing? Tell Nancy I said hello. Merry Christmas!' And he said, 'Kenny, you haven't heard?' I found out that way. He said, 'George is dead,'" Goss said. "And I just went, 'Wow.'"
The days and weeks that followed were difficult for Goss. He said he knows nothing about the circumstances surrounding Michael's death, who was discovered in bed by his boyfriend, Fadi Fawaz. Goss said seeing the worldwide tributes to his former partner have been heartwarming.
"They loved him," he said.
Goss said the foundation that bears both of their names will continue.
"It won't stop until I decide it will. It's my decision. I think in death he was even more proud of it," Goss said.
Goss is currently preparing for the upcoming MTV RE:DEFINE event in Dallas, which will raise several million dollars for the Staying Alive Foundation.
More than two months after Michael's death, Goss said he still feels Michael's presence.
"All the time, yeah. I'm always asking him questions. Like coming to do this interview, I'm like, 'Darlin' I hope this is OK,' because he's really private," Goss said.
And when asked about what he would say to the man he still calls his longtime love, Goss says this: "I said it all to him already. There wasn't anything we left unsaid. 'I love you.'"
