Career Timeline of Randy Travis: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Randy Travis built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Randy Travis is a highly successful American country and gospel singer, songwriter, and actor. Beginning his career in 1979, he has released over 20 studio albums and achieved significant chart success, with over 50 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Sixteen of his singles reached the coveted number-one spot, solidifying his place as a major figure in country music. Besides his musical achievements, Travis has also ventured into film and television acting.
7 hours ago : Randy Travis and Wife Invest in Jackson's Metrocenter Mall Revitalization Project.
Randy Travis and his wife are investing in the Metrocenter shopping mall in Jackson, Mississippi, through the Randy Travis Foundation. They aim to revitalize the area, starting with the former Burlington Coat Factory site.
1968: First Public Performance
In 1968, Randy Travis and his brother Ricky performed publicly for the first time at a local elementary school talent show.
1977: Winning Talent Competition
In 1977, Randy Travis won a talent competition held at Country City USA in Charlotte, North Carolina, which was co-owned by his future wife, Mary Elizabeth "Lib" Hatcher.
1979: Release of First Singles
In 1979, Randy Travis and Lib Hatcher promoted his first singles, "She's My Woman" and "I'll Take Any Willing Woman", to radio stations after paying for the recording session. "She's My Woman" reached number 91 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
1979: Randy Travis Active Since 1979
Since 1979, Randy Travis has been active as a country and gospel music singer, songwriter, and actor, recording over 20 studio albums and charting over 50 singles.
1981: Move to Nashville
In 1981, Randy Travis and Lib Hatcher relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, to further his country music career.
1982: Managing Nashville Palace
In 1982, Lib Hatcher began managing the Nashville Palace and hired Randy Travis, who then performed under the name Randy Ray, to wash dishes and eventually perform.
1982: Reference to the song "1982"
In 1982, Randy Travis song “1982” was noted to have themes of "lost love".
1982: Travis writes "I Told You So"
In 1982, Randy Travis wrote "I Told You So" around the time he attempted to sign with Curb Records. The song was submitted to Lee Greenwood, who declined it.
1982: "Send My Body" Appears on Randy Ray Album
In 1982, the song "Send My Body", composed by Travis himself, had previously appeared on the Randy Ray album.
1982: Release of "1982"
The song "1982" peaked at number six on the country charts in early 1986, thus becoming Randy Travis's first hit single.
1983: You Can Be a Star
In early 1983, Randy Travis auditioned on the talent show "You Can Be a Star" on The Nashville Network (TNN) and placed second.
1984: Signed to Warner Bros. Records
In late 1984, Randy Ray, later renamed Randy Travis, was signed to a four-song contract with Warner Bros. Records' Nashville division.
May 17, 1985: Appearance on Nashville Now
On May 17, 1985, Randy Travis appeared on Nashville Now, performing alongside Johnny Russell and Lorrie Morgan.
August 1985: Release of "On the Other Hand"
In August 1985, Warner Bros. Records released "On the Other Hand" by Randy Travis, which initially peaked at number 67 on the Billboard country charts.
March 1986: Grand Ole Opry Debut and ACM Award
In March 1986, Randy Travis performed on the Grand Ole Opry for the first time and received the ACM award for Top New Male Vocalist.
June 2, 1986: Release of Storms of Life
On June 2, 1986, Randy Travis's debut album, "Storms of Life", was released by Warner and sold over 100,000 copies in its first week, reaching number one on Top Country Albums.
July 1986: "On the Other Hand" Reaches Number One
In July 1986, "On the Other Hand" became Randy Travis's first number-one single on the Billboard country charts upon its re-release.
November 15, 1986: "Randy Travis Day" declared in Charlotte, North Carolina
On November 15, 1986, Randy Travis performed a concert with George Jones and Patty Loveless in Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte's then-mayor Harvey Gantt declared November 15 to be "Randy Travis Day".
1987: ACM Awards for "Forever and Ever, Amen" and Travis
At the ACM awards honoring the year 1987, "Forever and Ever, Amen" won both Song and Single of the Year, and Randy Travis also won Top Male Vocalist. He was also nominated for Entertainer of the Year, while "Forever and Ever, Amen" received a Music Video of the Year nomination and Always & Forever was nominated for Album of the Year.
1987: Singles released from Always & Forever reach number one
Between 1987 and 1988, "I Won't Need You Anymore (Always and Forever)" was released as a single from Always & Forever.
1987: "No Place Like Home" Single Release
In early 1987, "No Place Like Home" was released as a single and peaked at number two; it was also Randy Travis's first single promoted through a music video.
1987: Release and Success of "Forever and Ever, Amen"
In early 1987, Randy Travis released the single "Forever and Ever, Amen", which topped the Billboard country charts for three weeks. He also won Male Vocalist of the Year from the ACM awards, where Storms of Life won Album of the Year and "On the Other Hand" won both Song and Single of the Year. During the awards ceremony, Travis performed "Forever and Ever, Amen" live for the first time.
March 1988: Travis wins Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance
In March 1988, Randy Travis won his first Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for Always & Forever at the 30th Annual Grammy Awards.
1988: Singles released from Always & Forever reach number one
Between 1987 and 1988, "Too Gone Too Long", and "I Told You So" were released as singles from Always & Forever, with all three reaching number one on the Billboard country charts.
1988: Acting Debut in Young Guns
In 1988, Randy Travis made his acting debut with an uncredited cameo in the movie Young Guns. Although most of his part was cut, he sang the title track to the movie's soundtrack.
1988: Travis tours and releases Old 8x10
In 1988, Randy Travis toured throughout the United States, including a spot on the Marlboro Country Music Tour at Madison Square Garden. He also released his third Warner album, Old 8×10.
December 1989: "It's Just a Matter of Time" reaches number one
In December 1989, Randy Travis's rendition of Brook Benton's "It's Just a Matter of Time" reached number one on the country charts.
1989: Number one singles from Old 8x10
Between 1988 and early 1989, "Honky Tonk Moon", "Deeper Than the Holler", and "Is It Still Over?" were released from Old 8x10 and reached number one on the country charts.
1990: Release of Heroes & Friends
In 1990, Randy Travis released Heroes & Friends, a duets album featuring artists such as Tammy Wynette, Merle Haggard, George Jones, and B. B. King.
1991: Heroes & Friends singles and CMA Awards Performance
Between late 1990 and early 1991, "A Few Ole Country Boys" and "Heroes and Friends" peaked within the top 10 of the country charts. Travis performed "Heroes and Friends" at the 1991 CMA Awards, joined by Jones, Wynette, Vern Gosdin, and Roy Rogers.
1991: Release of High Lonesome and Singles
In 1991, Randy Travis released his album High Lonesome, led off by the single "Point of Light". Travis also wrote several songs with Alan Jackson while on tour together in 1991, producing the album's next two singles "Better Class of Losers" and "I'd Surrender All" between late 1991 and early 1992.
1992: Touring Hiatus
In 1992, Randy Travis took a hiatus from touring due to exhaustion. He and Hatcher spent time at their property in Maui.
1993: Wind in the Wire TV movie role
In 1993, Randy Travis appeared in the television movie "Wind in the Wire".
1993: Release of 'Wind in the Wire' album
In 1993, during his touring hiatus, Randy Travis released the Western music album 'Wind in the Wire', produced by Steve Gibson, as a tie-in to a television movie. While commercially unsuccessful in the US, the lead single "Cowboy Boogie" reached number 10 on the Canadian country music charts.
1993: "An Old Pair of Shoes" reaches number 21
In early 1993, Randy Travis's "An Old Pair of Shoes", released as a follow-up to previous hits, reached number 21.
1993: Contact from MGM Grand Las Vegas
In late 1993, Randy Travis was contacted by a representative for the MGM Grand Las Vegas to be the first country artist to perform at the new venue, inspiring him to begin touring again.
February 28, 1994: Release of 'Before You Kill Us All'
On February 28, 1994, Randy Travis released "Before You Kill Us All" as the lead single from his upcoming album, 'This Is Me'. The song reached number two on the Billboard country charts.
1994: 'This Is Me' Album Certified Gold
In mid-1994, Randy Travis's album 'This Is Me' was certified gold by the RIAA.
1995: Mark Collie's Tennessee Plates Album
In 1995, Mark Collie recorded "Spirit of a Boy, Wisdom of a Man" which appeared on his Tennessee Plates album. Randy Travis would later record this song for his You and You Alone album in 1998.
1995: A Holiday to Remember TV movie role
In 1995, Randy Travis acted in the television movie "A Holiday to Remember".
1995: Co-Production of Daryle Singletary's Debut Album
In 1995, Randy Travis co-produced Daryle Singletary's self-titled debut album after discovering him and including him in his touring band.
1995: Touring with Sammy Kershaw and George Jones
In 1995, Randy Travis continued to tour alongside Sammy Kershaw and George Jones despite not having a charted single for most of the year.
1995: Top-Ten Hits
In 1995, Randy Travis had more top-ten hits between late 1994 and early 1995, with the album's title track 'This is Me' and "The Box" .
1995: Starring in 'A Holiday to Remember'
In 1995, Randy Travis starred alongside Rue McClanahan in the CBS television movie A Holiday to Remember. Before the movie's release, Travis noted that his appearance on Matlock inspired him to take on more acting roles, and that A Holiday to Remember was one of his first roles not related to the Western genre.
1995: Greatest Hits albums certified platinum
In 1995, both of Randy Travis's greatest-hits albums, Greatest Hits, Volume One and Greatest Hits, Volume Two, were certified platinum.
1996: Always & Forever certified quintuple platinum
In 1996, Always & Forever received Randy Travis's highest certification of quintuple platinum for sales of five million copies.
1996: Release of 'Full Circle' Album
In 1996, Randy Travis released his final album for Warner Bros., titled 'Full Circle'. The lead single was "Are We in Trouble Now", written by Mark Knopfler.
August 1997: Signing with DreamWorks Records
In August 1997, Randy Travis became the first artist signed to DreamWorks Records's Nashville division.
1997: Old 8x10 certified double-platinum
In 1997, Old 8x10 received its highest certification of double-platinum.
1997: Leaving Warner Bros. Records
In 1997, Randy Travis departed from Warner Bros. Records and signed with DreamWorks Records.
1997: King of the Road on the soundtrack of the movie 'Traveller'
In 1997, Randy Travis's cover of Roger Miller's 'King of the Road' appeared on the soundtrack of the movie 'Traveller'.
1997: Departure from Warner Bros.
In mid-1997, Randy Travis announced his departure from Warner Bros. due to disagreements over album promotion and concerns about the industry's shift towards country pop.
1998: Release of 'You and You Alone' album
In 1998, Randy Travis released his first DreamWorks album, 'You and You Alone', which featured the hit single "Out of My Bones" and other top-ten hits such as "The Hole" and "Spirit of a Boy, Wisdom of a Man".
1999: Kenny Chesney's Everywhere We Go Album
In 1999, Kenny Chesney recorded 'Baptism' for his album Everywhere We Go. Randy Travis would later record this song for his Inspirational Journey album in 2000.
1999: Collaboration on "Same Old Train" and Release of 'A Man Ain't Made of Stone'
In 1999, Randy Travis collaborated on the song "Same Old Train" for the album 'Tribute to Tradition', winning a Grammy Award. He also released his album 'A Man Ain't Made of Stone'.
2000: Departure from DreamWorks
In 2000, Randy Travis exited DreamWorks Records after feeling the label had not properly distributed his album and that Stroud's production style emphasized instrumentation over his singing voice.
2000: Signing with Word Records
In 2000, Randy Travis signed with Word Records to release a series of gospel albums.
2000: Signing with Word Records and Gospel Album Release
In late 2000, Randy Travis signed with Word Records and released the gospel album 'Inspirational Journey', which included guest vocals from Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, and Kenny Chesney.
2001: Release of "America Will Always Stand"
Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, Randy Travis co-wrote and released the promotional single "America Will Always Stand", donating the proceeds to the American Red Cross.
2002: Release of 'Rise and Shine' Album
In 2002, Randy Travis released his next gospel album for Word, titled 'Rise and Shine', which featured the number-one hit "Three Wooden Crosses".
October 2003: 'Rise and Shine' Certified Gold
In October 2003, Randy Travis's album 'Rise and Shine' was certified gold.
2003: Release of 'Worship & Faith' Album
In 2003, Randy Travis released 'Worship & Faith', a gospel album featuring 20 acoustic covers of praise songs and hymns.
2003: Dove Award for Country Album of the Year
In 2003, Randy Travis won the Dove Award for Country Album of the Year, starting a streak of four consecutive wins in that category.
2003: Recording of Precious Memories (Worship & Faith)
In 2003, the songs for Randy Travis's "Precious Memories (Worship & Faith)" album were recorded at the Calvary Assembly of God Church in Orlando, Florida.
2005: Release of Glory Train: Songs of Faith, Worship, and Praise
In 2005, Randy Travis released the gospel album "Glory Train: Songs of Faith, Worship, and Praise", which won a Grammy Award. The album featured a mix of Black spirituals and contemporary Christian music.
2006: Collaboration on CMT Cross Country
In 2006, Randy Travis and Josh Turner collaborated on the show CMT Cross Country.
2006: Filming and Release of Christmas on the Pecos
In 2006, Randy Travis recorded footage for a Christmas DVD titled "Christmas on the Pecos" at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, featuring Christmas songs and a poem reading. The DVD was released later that year.
2007: Carrie Underwood Recorded Cover of "I Told You So"
In 2007, Carrie Underwood recorded a cover of "I Told You So" on her album Carnival Ride.
2007: Cameo in National Treasure: Book of Secrets
In 2007, Randy Travis made a cameo appearance in National Treasure: Book of Secrets, performing at the Mount Vernon party.
2007: Release of Songs of the Season
In 2007, Randy Travis released the Christmas album "Songs of the Season", adding to his Christmas-themed projects.
2008: Release of Around the Bend album
In 2008, Randy Travis released the country music album "Around the Bend", his first country release since A Man Ain't Made of Stone. He also released "Faith in You" as a free download and "Dig Two Graves" as a single.
January 2009: Carrie Underwood releases cover of I Told You So as a single
In January 2009, Carrie Underwood released her cover of Randy Travis's "I Told You So" as a single, leading to a combined recording and performance with Travis on American Idol.
2010: Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals
In 2010, Randy Travis and Carrie Underwood won the Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for their duet version of "I Told You So."
2011: Recording of Demo by James Dupré
In 2011, James Dupré recorded the song that would become "Where That Came From", however, the recording was not released until 2024.
2011: Release of Anniversary Celebration
In 2011, Randy Travis released "Anniversary Celebration" to honor the 25th anniversary of "Storms of Life." The album featured collaborations with various artists on re-recordings of Travis's singles and new songs.
2013: Release of Influence Vol. 1: The Man I Am
In late 2013, Randy Travis released "Influence Vol. 1: The Man I Am", a cover album featuring songs by Lefty Frizzell, Ernest Tubb, and George Jones. It also included a duet with Joe Nichols.
2014: Release of Influence Vol. 2: The Man I Am
In 2014, Randy Travis released "Influence Vol. 2: The Man I Am", which included covers of songs by Merle Haggard, Ernest Tubb, Lefty Frizzell, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings.
2016: Induction into Country Music Hall of Fame
In 2016, Randy Travis was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and sang "Amazing Grace" at the ceremony. He also appeared in the "Forever Country" music video.
2017: Influence of Diggin' Up Bones Cited
In 2017, Josh Turner and Chris Janson both cited "Diggin' Up Bones" as an influence during a tribute concert.
September 2019: Return to Touring Announced
In September 2019, Randy Travis announced his return to touring with James Dupré as the lead vocalist. Travis makes selected appearances, including singing the final "Amen" in "Forever and Ever, Amen".
February 2020: Release of Precious Memories (Worship & Faith)
In February 2020, Randy Travis released "Precious Memories (Worship & Faith)", a gospel album recorded in 2003 at Calvary Assembly of God Church in Orlando, Florida.
2020: Guest Vocal on Josh Turner's Cover of 'Forever and Ever, Amen'
In 2020, Randy Travis contributed a guest vocal to Josh Turner's cover of "Forever and Ever, Amen" on his covers album Country State of Mind.
2021: "Forever and Ever, Amen" earns double-platinum certification
In 2021, "Forever and Ever, Amen" received double-platinum RIAA certification, becoming Randy Travis's highest-certified single.
February 2024: Guest Appearance on The Price Is Right
In February 2024, Randy Travis appeared as a special guest on an episode of the game show The Price Is Right.
April 2024: Release of 'Where That Came From'
In April 2024, Randy Travis released "Where That Came From", his first new studio recording since his stroke, using voice cloning technology. The vocals were created using AI trained on 42 prior recordings of randy travis' voice. The program was then composited over an existing recording of the song that Dupré had cut in 2011.
2024: New AI Songs Release
Between mid-2024 and January 2025, Randy Travis released two new songs utilizing artificial intelligence to recreate his voice.
2024: Randy Travis's last solo chart singles until 2024, 'Four Walls' and 'Angels'
Randy Travis's final solo chart singles until 2024 were "Four Walls" and "Angels".
January 2025: Release of new AI songs
Between mid-2024 and January 2025, Randy Travis released two new songs where his voice was re-created via artificial intelligence.
January 2025: Release of 'Horses in Heaven'
In January 2025, Randy Travis released "Horses in Heaven," dedicating the song to victims of the 2025 Potomac River mid-air collision. The vocal track was created through the same voice cloning technology as "Where That Came From.
March 2025: Announcement of 'Forever and Ever, Amen' Biographical Movie
In March 2025, at the Grand Ole Opry, Randy Travis joined Clay Walker to announce the release of an upcoming biographical movie called Forever and Ever, Amen. The film, to be written and directed by Andrew Hyatt, will feature Walker as one of three actors portraying Travis at various stages in his life.
March 19, 2025: Celebration of Grand Ole Opry's 100th Birthday
On March 19, 2025, NBC’s Opry 100: A Live Celebration honored the Grand Ole Opry's 100th birthday with tributes to country icons, including Randy Travis. Carrie Underwood performed Travis’ songs and sang “Forever and Ever, Amen” to him.
2025: More Life Tour
As of 2025, James Dupré has continued to tour with Randy Travis in a tour known as the More Life Tour.
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