What happened to Ernie Johnson Jr.’s son Michael Johnson? All about the family and TNT host bids emotional farewell to crew

One of the most beloved voices in sports broadcasting, Ernie Johnson Jr., recently delivered a heartfelt farewell on Inside the NBA, as the iconic show ends its run on TNT. Ernie Johnson Jr. bid goodbye to his team as the popular sports program prepares to transition to ESPN and ABC.

But amid the farewell, fans and media seemed more interested in his personal life, most notably the tragic passing of his son, Michael Johnson, in 2021. Johnson was married to Cheryl, and they had a total of six children, including two biological and four adopted children. One of them was Michael Johnson.

According to CBS News, Michael was adopted from a Romanian orphanage at the age of three back in 1991. Not long after his arrival in the U.S., he was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare genetic disorder involving rapidly progressing muscle weakness.

Michael reportedly needed intensive care and was on a ventilator. His father often talked about how funny and strong Michael was, and how he could remember people by the cars in which they drove. Despite his condition, Michael survived till the age of 33. He passed away in November 2021.

"We lost michael johnson today and we’re crushed. But we also know we’ll see him again…and that sustains us."

Michael Johnson had supposedly become obsessed with car keys and key fobs, hoarding them and assigning to each a special, distinct meaning. His parents remembered how Michael even envisioned Jesus driving a red Chevrolet Silverado.

"And when he got sicker, and he got on the ventilator, he even talked about the car that Jesus drives. And if you need to know, Jesus drives a red Silverado." Ernie's wife Cheryl Johnson told CBS News.

More about Ernie Johnson Jr.’s family

Ernie Johnson Jr. lives with his wife, Cheryl Johnson, who is a certified professional counselor and a child welfare advocate. The pair, who married in 1982, have six children together, two biological and four adopted.

According to Celebrity Mirror, their biological children, Eric and Maggie, have pursued careers of their own out of the media spotlight. Eric is a husband to Quynh and a proud father to two boys, Ernest and Bennett. Maggie Pruitt is now a devoted pre-K teacher. She is also the mother of daughters Katie and Amy.

The Johnsons had four adopted children: Carmen, Ashley, Allison, and the deceased Michael. Carmen was adopted from Paraguay, and Ashley and Allison were adopted through domestic foster care.

According to an article by the Short Form, in his memoir, Unscripted: The Unpredictable Moments That Make Life Extraordinary, Ernie Johnson Jr. expresses his deep satisfaction in seeing his kids growing up, notably his children’s weddings.

He fondly recalls the day he was proud to walk his daughter Maggie down the aisle and watch his son Eric wed Quynh Truong in the ceremony that mixed American and Vietnamese customs. According to Ernie, he has thoroughly enjoyed leading his family through the ups and downs of life.

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