‘You Never Said Goodbye': A heart wrenching song to a daughter lost to suicide

CTV News

10-07-2025

A Woodstock-based country musician has released a song about the devastating loss of her daughter to suicide.
Traci Kennedy's daughter, K'Lee, passed away at the age of 30 in the summer of 2022, just a few short years after she shared the stage with her mother.
It is a moment she recalled in an interview with CTV News London.
Traci Kennedy and K'Lee
K'Lee and Traci Kennedy sing together. (Source: Traci Kennedy)
'She did a couple of duets with me, and a friend just happened to capture that moment in a picture, and I will treasure that forever,' Kennedy said.
K'Lee had long struggled with the loss of her father and grandfather and suffered anxiety during the pandemic while living alone in Toronto.
Traci offered frequent love and support, but never anticipated the devastating phone call she received from a police officer, telling her K'Lee had died.
'All of a sudden, my world just exploded,' she recalled with anguish.
Traci would spend the next year going through all the stages of unending grief.
She would also question herself.
'Why didn't I see the signs earlier? And you just go through a roller coaster,' Kennedy said.
Then, K'Lee's friend gave Kennedy a bound book with blank pages to write down her thoughts.
Traci Kennedy and K'Lee
K'Lee, Traci Kennedy's daughter. (Source: Traci Kennedy)
Over many months, the thoughts became a song about her heartache.
Kennedy, who recorded an album and toured Canada and the U.S. two decades ago, returned to the studio.
The result is her new song, 'You Never Said Goodbye'.
The song hit number one on an independent Canadian Country Top 100 list. It has also been nominated for the Josie Awards at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn. this November.
Kennedy hopes the track reaches parents and families who lost loved ones to suicide.
'I want those who hear the song to know it's okay to feel the way you feel. It's okay to feel all of the emotions. It's okay to cry.'