Randy Travis Honored By Music Community At Nashville Charity Event

The musical community in Nashville honored Randy Travis Wednesday, as country stars came out to sing his classic hits.

NASHVILLE HOSTED A CHARITY EVENT TO HONOR RANDY TRAVIS

Wynonna, Kenmy Rogers, Alabama, Garth Brooks, Chris Young, Travis Tritt, and Jeff Foxworthy were among the performers last night. They performed such hits as “Forever and Ever, Amen” and “Three Wooden Crosses.”

Travis suffered a stroke in 2013 that left him with aphasia, and he has trouble communicating as a result. His wife Mary Travis says, however, that he still sings and plays the guitar. “We sing a lot in the car,” she said backstage. “We sing a lot at home. Music is his soul. Music is just what he is made of. He knows all the words and he can chord every single song with his left hand.”

The concert was conceived to raise funds for a new foundation set up in Travis’ name to help stroke victims. Travis himself suffered from a viral infection in his heart and was in a coma when the stroke struck. He was hospitalized for five months, and underwent two brain surgeries.

“The bottom end of his voice is so wonderful,” said Rogers, who sang his classic “The Gambler.” “Most people sing well in the middle of their range, but he got down in the bottom of his range and would just hold it. I never heard anything like that.”

“There isn’t anybody in country music today that doesn’t owe their career to Randy Travis,” echoed Brooks from the stage. “I am one of those guys, man.”

The encore of the concert was a rousing version of “Forever and Ever, Amen,” and Brooks held the mic up to Travis to belt out the soft, but deep “Amen.”