re: Where would Keith Whitley be if not for what happened

Hard to tell...he had 3 number 1s on his second album, and was dead less than two years later.

There was controversy over his death, since he had been sober for 2 years. The chief M.E. that examined him was charged with forensic fraud (including misdiagnosis for numerous deceased), and was relieved of his license to practice pathology.