History of Randy Travis in Timeline
Randy Travis, born Randy Bruce Traywick, is a highly successful American country and gospel music singer, songwriter, and actor. He began his career in 1979 and has since released over 20 studio albums. Travis achieved significant chart success, with over 50 singles appearing on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, and sixteen reaching the coveted number-one spot, solidifying his place as a prominent figure in country music.
May 4, 1959: Randy Travis Born
On May 4, 1959, Randy Bruce Traywick, known professionally as Randy Travis, was born.
1968: First Public Performance
In 1968, Randy Travis and his brother Ricky performed publicly for the first time at a talent show at a local elementary school.
1977: Wins Talent Competition
In 1977, Randy Travis won a talent competition held at Country City USA, which led to a professional relationship and personal bond with Mary Elizabeth "Lib" Hatcher.
1979: Career Start
In 1979, Randy Travis began his career. He would go on to record over 20 studio albums and chart over 50 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
1979: First Singles Released
In 1979, Randy Travis released his first singles, "She's My Woman" and "I'll Take Any Willing Woman", through Paula Records.
1981: Move to Nashville
In 1981, Randy Travis and Lib Hatcher moved to Nashville to advance his country music career.
1982: Manages Nashville Palace
In 1982, Lib Hatcher began managing the Nashville Palace, where Randy Travis worked and performed, enhancing his exposure in the music industry.
1982: "1982" Single Release
In 1982, Randy Travis released the single "1982", which peaked at number six on the country charts in early 1986, becoming his first hit single.
1982: "Send My Body" Release
In 1982, Travis released "Send My Body" which appeared on Randy Ray album.
1982: Lyrical Themes in "1982"
The song "1982" contains conventionally country lyrical themes of "lost love".
1983: Nashville Network Audition
In early 1983, Randy Travis auditioned on "You Can Be a Star", a talent show on The Nashville Network (TNN), and finished second.
1984: Steve Earle releases "What'll You Do About Me"
In 1984, Steve Earle released Dennis Linde's composition "What'll You Do About Me", which was later included on Randy Travis' album Always & Forever.
1984: Signs with Warner Bros.
In late 1984, Randy Travis was signed to a contract with Warner Bros. Records's Nashville division, marking a significant turning point in his career.
May 17, 1985: Appears on Nashville Now
On May 17, 1985, Randy Travis appeared on "Nashville Now", performing with Johnny Russell and Lorrie Morgan.
August 1985: "On the Other Hand" Released
In August 1985, Randy Travis released "On the Other Hand", which initially peaked at number 67 on the Billboard country charts.
1985: Darrell Clanton Records "I Forgot That I Don't Live Here Anymore"
In 1985, Darrell Clanton recorded the song "I Forgot That I Don't Live Here Anymore" with "I Told You So" as the B-side, prior to Randy Travis releasing his version.
March 1986: Grand Ole Opry Debut
In March 1986, Randy Travis performed on the Grand Ole Opry for the first time, marking a significant milestone in his career.
June 2, 1986: Storms of Life Album Release
On June 2, 1986, Randy Travis released his debut album "Storms of Life", which sold over 100,000 copies in its first week and reached number one on Top Country Albums.
July 1986: "On the Other Hand" Number One
In July 1986, "On the Other Hand" became Randy Travis's first number-one single on the Billboard country charts after being re-released.
November 15, 1986: Randy Travis Day in Charlotte
On November 15, 1986, Charlotte's mayor Harvey Gantt declared November 15 to be "Randy Travis Day" in honor of Randy Travis and his contributions to music.
December 1986: "White Christmas Makes Me Blue" Release
In December 1986, Randy Travis released a Christmas single titled "White Christmas Makes Me Blue", which sold over 79,000 copies.
1987: ACM Awards for "Forever and Ever, Amen" and Travis
In 1987, "Forever and Ever, Amen" won both Song and Single of the Year at the ACM awards, and Randy Travis won Top Male Vocalist.
1987: "I Won't Need You Anymore (Always and Forever)" released as a single
In 1987, "I Won't Need You Anymore (Always and Forever)" was released as a single from the album Always & Forever.
1987: Release of "Forever and Ever, Amen" and ACM Award Wins
In 1987, Randy Travis released "Forever and Ever, Amen", which topped the Billboard country charts for three weeks. Corresponding with the song's success, Travis won Male Vocalist of the Year at 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.
1987: Grammy Nomination
In early 1987, Randy Travis received his first Grammy Award nomination for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for "Diggin' Up Bones".
1987: "No Place Like Home" Release
In early 1987, Randy Travis released "No Place Like Home", which peaked at number two and was his first single to be promoted through a music video.
March 1988: Randy Travis wins a Grammy Award
In March 1988, Randy Travis won a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for Always & Forever.
1988: "Too Gone Too Long" released as a single
In 1988, "Too Gone Too Long" was released as a single from the album Always & Forever and reached 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, also singing the title track to the movie's soundtrack.
1988: Randy Travis tours and releases Old 8x10 album
In 1988, Randy Travis toured the United States, including the Marlboro Country Music Tour, and released his third Warner album, Old 8×10. Travis was also awarded Male Vocalist of the Year by the Country Music Association.
December 1989: "It's Just a Matter of Time" reaches number one
In December 1989, Randy Travis's cover of "It's Just a Matter of Time" reached number one on the country charts.
1989: Singles off of Old 8x10 go to number one
In 1989, the first three singles off of Travis's Old 8x10 album all went to number one on the country charts.
1990: Don Cusic's Biography
In 1990, Don Cusic noted in his book, "Randy Travis: The King of the New Country Traditionalists", that Randy's parents supported him despite his criminal offenses.
1990: Randy Travis begins arranging Heroes & Friends
In 1990, Randy Travis and Hatcher spent over a year and a half arranging for recording sessions for the duets album, Heroes & Friends.
May 31, 1991: Secret Marriage to Lib Hatcher
On May 31, 1991, Randy Travis secretly married Lib Hatcher, leading to speculation and rumors due to the secrecy and Hatcher's age.
1991: Heroes & Friends album is released and performance at CMA Awards.
In 1991, Randy Travis performed "Heroes and Friends" at the CMA Awards, joined by George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Vern Gosdin, and Roy Rogers. Also in 1991, Heroes & Friends certified platinum.
1991: Release of High Lonesome and collaborations with Alan Jackson
In 1991, Randy Travis released the album High Lonesome, featuring the single "Point of Light". Travis also collaborated with Alan Jackson, co-writing several songs and touring together. Travis also performed "Point of Light" for American soldiers returning from Operation Desert Storm.
1992: Travis takes a break from touring and acquires property in Maui
In 1992, Randy Travis took a hiatus from touring due to exhaustion and spent time at a property in Maui he had acquired.
1992: The Forester Sisters release "What'll You Do About Me"
In 1992, The Forester Sisters released Dennis Linde's composition "What'll You Do About Me", which was previously included on Randy Travis' album Always & Forever.
1992: Singles released from High Lonesome
In 1992, Travis released the singles "Better Class of Losers" and "I'd Surrender All" from the High Lonesome album.
1993: Wind in the Wire
In 1993, Randy Travis appeared in the television movie "Wind in the Wire", adding to his acting credits.
1993: Release of Western music album Wind in the Wire
In 1993, Randy Travis released Wind in the Wire, an album of Western music tied to a television movie. The album proved commercially unsuccessful.
1993: "An Old Pair of Shoes" reaches number 21
In early 1993, Randy Travis's single "An Old Pair of Shoes" reached number 21 upon release.
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 to his album This Is Me. The song reached number two on the Billboard country charts and represented a more modern sound for Travis.
1994: This Is Me Certified Gold
In 1994, Randy Travis's album This Is Me was certified gold by the RIAA, marking a significant milestone in his career.
1995: Doug Supernaw releases "What'll You Do About Me"
In 1995, Doug Supernaw released Dennis Linde's composition "What'll You Do About Me", which was previously included on Randy Travis' album Always & Forever.
1995: A Holiday to Remember
In 1995, Randy Travis appeared in the television movie "A Holiday to Remember", further establishing his acting career.
1995: Co-production of Daryle Singletary's debut album
In 1995, Randy Travis co-produced Daryle Singletary's self-titled debut album after discovering Singletary's vocal talent.
1995: Greatest Hits albums certified platinum
In 1995, both Greatest Hits, Volume One and Greatest Hits, Volume Two, certified platinum.
1995: Starring in "A Holiday to Remember"
In late 1995, Randy Travis starred in the CBS television movie "A Holiday to Remember" alongside Rue McClanahan, marking one of his first roles outside the Western genre.
1995: Touring with Sammy Kershaw and George Jones
Throughout 1995, Randy Travis toured alongside Sammy Kershaw and George Jones, solidifying his presence in the country music scene.
1996: Release of Full Circle Album
In 1996, Randy Travis released his final album for Warner Bros., Full Circle. The album was the product of over a year of song selection.
1996: Always & Forever album certified quintuple platinum
In 1996, the Always & Forever album received quintuple platinum certification for sales of five million copies.
August 1997: Signs with DreamWorks Records
In August 1997, Randy Travis became the first artist signed to DreamWorks Records' Nashville division.
1997: Departure from Warner Bros.
In 1997, Randy Travis departed from Warner Bros. due to disagreements over album promotion and concerns about the direction of the country music industry.
1997: Leaves Warner Bros. Records
In 1997, Randy Travis left Warner Bros. Records for DreamWorks Records, marking a change in his recording career.
1997: King of the Road on Traveller soundtrack
In 1997, Randy Travis's cover of Roger Miller's "King of the Road" appeared on the soundtrack of the movie Traveller.
1997: Old 8x10 receives double-platinum certification
In 1997, Travis's Old 8x10 album received double-platinum certification.
1998: Black Dog Movie Role
In 1998, Randy Travis appeared in the Patrick Swayze movie "Black Dog", expanding his presence in film.
1998: Release of You and You Alone Album
In 1998, Randy Travis released his first album for DreamWorks, You and You Alone, which featured the hit singles "The Hole" and "Spirit of a Boy, Wisdom of a Man."
1999: Wins Grammy for "Same Old Train"
In 1999, Randy Travis was one of the artists featured on "Same Old Train" which won the Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals.
October 2000: Leaves DreamWorks Records
In October 2000, Randy Travis exited DreamWorks Records, citing issues with album distribution and production style.
2000: Signs with Word Records
In 2000, Randy Travis signed to Word Records for a series of gospel albums, expanding his musical genre.
2001: Release of "America Will Always Stand"
Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, Randy Travis co-wrote and released "America Will Always Stand", donating the proceeds to the American Red Cross.
2001: Dove Awards for Inspirational Journey
In 2001, Randy Travis's album, Inspirational Journey, won two Dove Awards: Bluegrass Album of the Year for the album itself, and Country Recorded Song of the Year for "Baptism".
2002: Release of Rise and Shine Album
In late 2002, Randy Travis released his gospel album, Rise and Shine on Word Records.
October 2003: Rise and Shine Certified Gold
In October 2003, Randy Travis' album Rise and Shine was certified gold.
2003: Recording of "Precious Memories (Worship & Faith)" album
In 2003, Randy Travis recorded the songs for "Precious Memories (Worship & Faith)" at Calvary Assembly of God Church in Orlando, Florida, which would be released later in 2020.
2003: Release of Worship & Faith
In 2003, Randy Travis released the gospel album Worship & Faith, featuring acoustic covers of praise songs and hymns.
September 2004: Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
In September 2004, Randy Travis received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, marking his significant contributions to the entertainment industry.
2004: Grammy Award for Rise and Shine
At the 2004 Grammy Awards, Randy Travis' Rise and Shine won the Grammy Award for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album.
2005: Release of Glory Train
In 2005, Randy Travis released the gospel album Glory Train: Songs of Faith, Worship, and Praise, which included a mix of Black spirituals and contemporary Christian music.
2006: Collaboration with Josh Turner on CMT Cross Country
In 2006, Randy Travis collaborated with Josh Turner on the show CMT Cross Country, highlighting Travis's influence on later generations of singers.
2006: Recording Christmas on the Pecos DVD
In 2006, Randy Travis recorded footage for a Christmas DVD titled Christmas on the Pecos, featuring him singing Christmas songs in Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
2007: Release of Songs of the Season album
In 2007, Randy Travis released a Christmas album, Songs of the Season, continuing his exploration of gospel and holiday music.
2007: Carrie Underwood Records "I Told You So"
In late 2007, Carrie Underwood recorded a cover of "I Told You So" on her album Carnival Ride, paving the way for a successful duet with Randy Travis in the future.
2008: Release of "Around the Bend" album
In 2008, Randy Travis released his studio album "Around the Bend", marking his return to country music and Warner Records. The album featured singles like "Faith in You" and "Dig Two Graves", and won a Dove Award for Country Album of the Year.
January 2009: Carrie Underwood releases "I Told You So" cover
In January 2009, Carrie Underwood released her cover of "I Told You So", which led to a combined recording with Randy Travis's original vocal track. The duet version reached number two on the country charts.
October 2010: Divorce from Lib Hatcher
In October 2010, Randy Travis and Lib Hatcher divorced due to incompatibility, though Hatcher continued to serve as his manager.
2010: Grammy Award win for "I Told You So"
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: "Anniversary Celebration" Release
In 2011, Randy Travis released "Anniversary Celebration" to honor the 25th anniversary of "Storms of Life". The album featured collaborations with artists like Zac Brown Band and Kenny Chesney.
2011: Recording of "Fool's Love Affair" Demo
Randy Travis recorded a demo of "Fool's Love Affair" in the early 1980s, which was later released as a single in 2020.
February 2012: Arrested for Public Intoxication
In February 2012, Randy Travis was arrested in Sanger, Texas, after being found in a parked car with an open container of alcohol and showing signs of intoxication.
August 7, 2012: Arrested for DUI and Terroristic Threats
On August 7, 2012, Randy Travis was arrested in Grayson County, Texas, for driving under the influence and making terroristic threats against public servants after crashing his car and being found unclothed and intoxicated.
2013: Mary Davis's Role During Stroke
In 2013, Mary Davis tended to Randy Travis's medical needs during his stroke, highlighting her supportive role in his life and recovery.
2013: Near-Fatal Stroke
In 2013, Randy Travis suffered a near-fatal stroke that severely limited his singing and speaking ability, presenting a major challenge in his life and career.
2013: Release of "Influence Vol. 1: The Man I Am"
In late 2013, Randy Travis released "Influence Vol. 1: The Man I Am", a project featuring cover songs by artists like Lefty Frizzell, Ernest Tubb, and George Jones.
2014: Release of "Influence Vol. 2: The Man I Am"
In 2014, Randy Travis followed up with "Influence Vol. 2: The Man I Am", continuing his series of cover songs from artists such as Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings.
March 21, 2015: Marriage to Mary Davis
On March 21, 2015, Randy Travis married Mary Davis, who has since been instrumental in his recovery and public appearances.
2015: Appearance at the Academy of Country Music Awards
In 2015, Randy Travis made a guest appearance at the Academy of Country Music awards ceremony, where Lee Brice paid tribute to him by singing "Forever and Ever, Amen".
2016: Induction into the 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.
June 2017: Onstage appearance with Michael Ray
In June 2017, despite speech limitations, Randy Travis appeared onstage with singer Michael Ray during a cover performance of "Forever and Ever, Amen".
December 2017: Police Dashcam Video Released
In December 2017, after a five-year legal battle, a judge ruled that the police dashcam video of Randy Travis's 2012 DUI arrest did not violate his privacy, and it was subsequently released to the public.
2017: Influence on Chris Janson and tribute concert
In 2017, both Chris Janson and Josh Turner cited "Diggin' Up Bones" as an influence when interviewed for a tribute concert to Randy Travis.
May 4, 2019: 60th Birthday Party at the Grand Ole Opry
On May 4, 2019, Randy Travis's 60th birthday party was hosted by the Grand Ole Opry, where he made an appearance.
September 2019: Announcement of return to touring
In September 2019, Randy Travis announced his return to touring, featuring James Dupré as the lead vocalist. Travis selected Dupré after seeing him perform on The Voice.
2019: "Forever and Ever, Amen" listed as one of the 100 greatest country songs
In 2019, editors of The Tennessean listed "Forever and Ever, Amen" as one of the 100 greatest country songs of all time, referring to it as Randy Travis's signature song.
February 2020: Release of "Precious Memories (Worship & Faith)"
In February 2020, Randy Travis released "Precious Memories (Worship & Faith)" through Gaither Music, featuring songs recorded in 2003 at Calvary Assembly of God Church in Orlando, Florida.
2020: Guest vocal on Josh Turner's "Forever and Ever, Amen"
In 2020, Randy Travis contributed a guest vocal to Josh Turner's cover of "Forever and Ever, Amen" on his album Country State of Mind, demonstrating his continued musical influence.
2021: "Forever and Ever, Amen" earns double-platinum RIAA certification
In 2021, "Forever and Ever, Amen" became Randy Travis's highest-certified single, earning double-platinum RIAA certification.
February 2024: Appearance on "The Price Is Right"
In February 2024, Randy Travis made a special guest appearance on an episode of the game show "The Price Is Right", demonstrating his continued public presence.
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 to recreate his voice.
2024: Last Solo Chart Singles
In 2024, Randy Travis had his last solo chart singles, marking a significant milestone in his music career.
2024: AI Voice Recreation
In mid-2024, Randy Travis released new music featuring his voice re-created via artificial intelligence, showcasing innovation in his career.
January 2025: Release of "Horses in Heaven"
In January 2025, Randy Travis released "Horses in Heaven," a song dedicated to the victims of the 2025 Potomac River mid-air collision, utilizing voice cloning technology.
January 2025: AI Voice Music Release
In January 2025, Randy Travis released new music featuring his voice re-created via artificial intelligence, marking a significant milestone.
2025: More Life Tour
As of 2025, James Dupré continues to tour with Randy Travis in a tour known as the More Life Tour, marking Randy Travis' continued presence in the music scene despite health challenges.
